European project must go on, say officials

The European Union’s political leaders vowed to continue with the European project yesterday as Britain voted to become the first country to leave the union of 28 member states.

As Brussels came to terms with an historic vote that few had predicted, European Council president Donald Tusk moved to reassure the world that the European Union would continue.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I want to reassure everyone that we are prepared also for this negative scenario,” he said in a televised address within hours of the result.

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

Following a meeting of the heads of the three main institutions and Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte in Brussels, the EU's most senior officials underlined their joint commitment to the EU's core values.

“This is an unprecedented situation but we are united in our response,” they said in a joint statement issued shortly after midday.

“The union of 27 member states will continue.”

But they also urged Britain to begin exit negotiations with the European Union "as soon as possible", potentially putting the EU on a collision course with outgoing British prime minister David Cameron who said the British government would only invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty when a new leader is in place.

Manfred Weber, the German MEP who heads the European Parliament's largest political group, the European People's Party (EPP), led calls for a swift conclusion to the British exit talks, arguing that the EU could not wait for the Conservative party to replace Mr Cameron. "Exit negotiations should be concluded within two years at max. There cannot be any special treatment. Leave means leave," he said.

EU leaders gather in Brussels on Tuesday for a pre-scheduled summit, with the leaders due to meet without Britain to consider the next steps in the withdrawal process.

In a letter to EU leaders last night, Mr Tusk said that Mr Cameron would brief leaders on the British referendum on Tuesday evening over dinner.

The 27 leaders will meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the fallout from the referendum.

Leaders would also “start a discussion on the future of the European Union”, he said.

German chancellor Angela Merkel will host the French and Italian prime ministers in Berlin on Monday along with Mr Tusk ahead of the two-day summit in Brussels.

Across the European Union political leaders, many of whom are facing challenges from Eurosceptic parties in their own countries, responded to the referendum result.

German chancellor Angela Merkel described the outcome as a “blow for Europe” and a “blow for the process of European unification”, but cautioned against drawing “instant and simple conclusions” from the referendum.

Leaders of Eurosceptic parties across the union welcomed the outcome.

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders who leads the Freedom Party said it was now "time for a Dutch referendum".

The sentiment was echoed by Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front in France, who said the British referendum result was a "victory for freedom", and called for a referendum in France.