First Official Statements on BREXIT Referendum's Aftermath

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Both UK, and EU plus CoE Authorities made Today a Series of Official Statements on what should Follow, according to them, the Decision of Great Britain to Leave the European Union. 

"Eurofora" Starts Publishing all relevant Publis Statements, in a List which is due to be Updated asap, according to Developments. 

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 * For British Prime Minister David Cameron, "the country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise – perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people – from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar – have all had their say.

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I would ...reassure Brits living in European countries, and European citizens living here, that there will be no immediate changes in your circumstances. There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.

We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union. This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced.

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I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.

This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.

There is no need for a precise timetable today, but in my view we should aim to have a new Prime Minister in place by the start of the Conservative party conference in October.

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A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new Prime Minister, and I think it is right that this new Prime Minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU.

I will attend the European Council next week to explain the decision the British people have taken and my own decision.

The British people have made a choice. That not only needs to be respected – but those on the losing side of the argument, myself included, should help to make it work".

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EU Cuncil's "President Tusk", EU Parliament's "President Schulz" and Ducth "Prime Minister Rutte met this (Friday) morning in Brussels upon the invitation of European Commission President Juncker. They discussed the outcome of the UK referendum and made the following joint statement:

"In a free and democratic process, the British people have expressed their wish to leave the EU. We regret this decision, but respect it.

This is an unprecedented situation but we are united in our response. We will stand strong and uphold the EU's core values of promoting peace and the well-being of its peoples. The Union of 27 Member States will continue. The Union is the framework of our common political future. We are bound together by history, geography and common interests and will develop our cooperation on this basis. Together we will address our common challenges to generate growth, increase prosperity and ensure a safe and secure environment for our citizens. The institutions will play their full role in this endeavour.

We now expect the UK government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be. Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty.

We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way. Article 50 of the Treaty on EU sets out the procedure to be followed if a Member State decides to leave the EU. We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the UK regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the EU. Until this process of negotiations is over, the UK remains a member of the EU with all the rights and obligations that derive from this.  According to the Trea ties which the UK has ratified, EU law continues to apply to the full to and in the UK m until it is no longer a Member.

As agreed, the “New Settlement for the UK within the EU”, reached at the European Council on 18-19 February 2016, will now not take effect and ceases to exist. There will be no renegotiation.

As regards the UK, we hope to have it as a close Partner of the EU in the future. We expect the UK to formulate its proposals in this respect. Any agreement, which will be concluded with the UK as a third country, will have to reflect the interests of both sides and be balanced in terms of rights and obligations.”

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Statements by ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party's President Joseph Daul, and EU Parliament's EPP Group's President Manfred Weber :

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"“We take note of the decision made by British voters. The EPP remains wholeheartedly committed to the European project and to the process of further integration with remaining 27 Member States. At the same time, we will defend the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and firmly oppose any attempts to interfere with the freedom of movement”, said EPP President Joseph Daul.

+“We respect and regret the decision of the British voters. It causes major damage to both sides. But this was a British vote, not a European vote. People in the other states don’t want to leave Europe. There are clear majorities in favour of the European project. Cooperation within Europe is a question of the ability for Europeans to determine their own way of life. It is our goal to effectively combat growing nationalism and populism”, said EPP Group Chairman Weber.

“Respecting the democratic decision of the British voters also means that the exit negotiations should be swiftly concluded, within the two-year deadline, as defined in the Lisbon Treaty.  From our point of view, there cannot be any special treatment for United Kingdom. The British people have expressed their wish to leave the EU. Leave means leave. The times of cherry-picking are over”, said the EPP leaders.

“Over the past 70 years, the EU has safeguarded European freedom, peace and prosperity, and it will continue to do so. We must renew People’s enthusiasm towards the European project by delivering more tangible benefits to all our citizens. Together we will build a truly integrated single Market which creates job opportunities. We will also better protect EU Citizens by cooperating in the field of Security. As (EU Comission) President Juncker said during his campaign, the EU must be big on big things and small on small things in the future", observed President Daul.

"Europe needs a Time of Reflection. We want a better and smarter Europe. We have to convince the people and find answers to the big challenges of our times such as Security and Msigration. ..." concluded Chairman Weber.

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- “The democratic decision in this referendum must be respected", said also CoE's Secretary General, (former Prime Minister of Norway, and Nobel Peace Prize Committee President), Thornbjorn Jagland, in Strasbourg.

- "The best way forward now is for the EU, in accordance with its best traditions, to work together with the UK Government to obtain the most acceptable outcome for the Citizens of the UK and Europe".

+ Meanwhile, "Everybody should now focus on what unites our Family of European Nations : Democracy, Human rights and the rule of Law”, he concluded.

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