EU parliament leader: we want Britain out as soon as possible, by Jennifer Rankin.
A senior EU leader has confirmed the bloc wants Britain out as soon as possible, warning that David Cameron’s decision to delay the start of Brexit negotiations until his successor is in place may not be fast enough. …
As the EU’s institutions scrambled to respond to the bodyblow of Britain’s exit, Schulz said uncertainty was “the opposite of what we need”, adding that it was difficult to accept that “a whole continent is taken hostage because of an internal fight in the Tory party”.
Not happy, understandably. His project, status, and his organization are all imperiled.
UPDATE: Brexit: Shocked European Union tells Britain to leave quickly amid ‘chain reaction’ fears, by the ABC.
A stunned European Union has urged Britain to leave as “soon as possible” amid fears the devastating blow to European unity could spark a chain reaction of further referendums.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande led calls for the European Union to reform in order to survive a traumatic divorce with Britain …
In a sign that the bloc wants to move on swiftly, EU chiefs told Britain in a strongly-worded joint statement to “give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be”. ….
Mr Hollande said the Brexit vote was a “grave test for Europe,” adding that the bloc “must show solidity and strength in its response to the economic and financial risks”.
He said the British should leave “with the shortest possible delay”.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose debt-hit country went through a referendum on its way to a bitterly-fought debt bailout, said the result could be a “wake-up call” for the EU to “change its policies”.
EU President Donald Tusk, who had earlier warned that a Leave vote could “end Western political civilisation” — put on a brave face, saying that “what does not kill you makes you stronger”. …
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said the British result was a “victory for freedom”, while Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders said “the Dutch people deserve a referendum as well”.
Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican US presidential nominee, also weighed in with his support while on a visit to Scotland, saying the vote for Brexit was a “fantastic thing,” evoking a “real parallel” with his own campaign.
There might be whiff of existential establishment panic in there.
