European stock markets settled higher on Wednesday, as investors largely ignored the official commencement of the U.K.'s negotiations to break from the European Union, dubbed Brexit.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 rose 10.20 points or 0.29 percent to settle at 3,475.27. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 30.30 points or 0.41 percent to close at 7,373.72.

Meanwhile, Germany's benchmark index DAX rose 53.58 points or 0.44 percent to end at 12,203.00. French benchmark index CAC 40 gained 22.84 points or 0.45 percent to end at 5,069.04.