World Reacts as UK Goodbyes the European Union

Friday, 24 June 2016

World Reacts as UK Goodbyes the European Union

British Prime Minister David Cameron announces his resignation after UK’s vote to exit the European Union. Cameron, who was speaking at Number 10, Downing Street in London, said Friday that he would leave office in fall- by October- when his ruling Conservative Party will hold a conference. The premier said the British people’s will must be respected after UK voters chose to leave the 28-nation European Union in a historic vote on Thursday. Cameron said there is no doubt about the result of the referendum but that he is not the “captain” that will steer the ship through difficult negotiations with the EU.

The PM, however, noted that there will be no initial change in how British goods and services are sold in Europe. The decision comes after a majority of Britons voted to leave the 28-member bloc after 43 years of membership.

World Reacts as UK Goodbyes the European Union

Local Editor

The United States is reacting cautiously to the decision by British voters to leave the European Union in a historic referendum.

In this regard, the White House said in a statement that President Barack Obama has been briefed on the incoming returns in the UK referendum, and he will continue to be updated by his team “as the situation warrants.”

“We expect the President will have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Cameron over the course of the next day, and we will release further comment as soon as appropriate,” the American statement added.

Meanwhile, the European Union president Donald Tusk said on Friday that the bloc is determined to stay unified after Britain voted to leave; however, he warned against “hysterical” reactions.

“Today on behalf of the 27 leaders, I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as 27,” Tusk told reporters in Brussels.

“It is a historic moment but for sure not a moment for hysterical reactions.”

In parallel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Friday called for the European Union to change direction following Britain’s vote to leave the bloc.

“We have to change it to make it more human and more just, but Europe is our home, it’s our future,” Renzi said in a tweet.

For his part, the Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka said Friday that Britain’s departure from the EU was not the end of the bloc but called for a “more flexible, less bureaucratic EU.”

“Despite the disappointment many of us feel… we must realize that this is not the end of the world and it’s absolutely not the end of the EU,” Sobotka said on Facebook.

In the same respect, Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that relationship with Britain will stay “very strong and intimate,” adding he was confident negotiations over a free-trade deal with the EU would not be jeopardized by the Brexit vote.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

24-06-2016 | 14:34

Shocked EU Vows Unity after Brexit Vote
A stunned European Union vowed to remain united on Friday despite Britain voting to leave, as fears grew that a “chain reaction” of further referendums could tear the bloc apart.

As Brussels, Paris and Berlin woke up to the grim news, leaders warned of a difficult divorce in a sign that Britain will win few concessions in negotiating life outside the circle of the other 27 members of the bloc. EU and Britain

“Today on behalf of the 27 leaders, I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as 27,” EU President Donald Tusk told reporters in Brussels in the first official reaction to the vote.

With global markets in turmoil, Tusk — who had earlier warned that a Leave vote could “end Western political civilization” — said it was “a historic moment but for sure not a moment for hysterical reactions.”

Although the EU had recently gone through “the most difficult” years in its 60-year history, it was worth remembering that “what does not kill you makes you stronger,” he said.

But the biggest fear in capitals across the continent was of contagion, with immediate calls by far-right leaders in France and the Netherlands for their countries to hold their own votes on EU membership.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said the British result was a “victory for freedom” and there should be referendums across Europe, while Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders said “the Dutch people deserve a referendum as well.”

European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he was speaking to Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel to avoid a “chain reaction” of eurosceptic success across Europe.

“The chain reaction that the eurosceptics are celebrating everywhere will absolutely not happen,” he told Germany’s ZDF television.

‘Sad Day’
Stunned European nations said they were saddened by the news, as they struggled to work out what lies ahead, with meetings planned in several capitals ahead of an EU summit on Tuesday.

EU heavyweight Germany said the news was “truly sobering”.

“It looks like a sad day for #Europe +the #UnitedKingdom,” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote on Twitter.

“Sad for the United Kingdom. Europe carries on but it must react and win back the trust of its people. It is urgent,” agreed his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, also writing on Twitter.

French President Francois Hollande was expected to react to the news after a ministerial meeting on Friday morning.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel admitted it was a “blow to the European project”.

He called for a special meeting of EU leaders in July “to reaffirm our commitment… We have to define our priorities and set out a new future for Europe.”

“I respect but regret the outcome #Brexit. Lux continues to work for a strong EU,” Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel tweeted, while Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite wrote: “#Brexit: respect, regret, re-engage”.

But there were signs that Britain would find negotiating a new relationship with the EU difficult.

The head of the main centre-right group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, warned that Britain should not expect an easy ride.
“Exit negotiations should be concluded within 2 years at max. There cannot be any special treatment. Leave means leave.”