On Tuesday, British Prime Minister David Cameron had to face stiff anger of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels. These leaders had a tough message for Cameron at their post-Brexit two-day summit in Brussels.
EU leaders told Cameron that Britain should immediately leave EU, and should not expect to have same trade benefits that it enjoyed earlier. EU president Donald Tusk said EU is ready to start the process of Britain’s separation from EU. German chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain will face severe consequence after leaving EU.
EU leaders were angry from Cameron for his decision to hold a referendum in Britain on Brexit.
The atmosphere in Brussels was tense as EU leaders arrived for the summit to discuss how to deal with Britain’s exit from EU. Reporters pounced on David Cameron as he arrived.
In a pre-summit meeting, the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy announced that the separation would not commence until Britain invokes Article 50 of the EU treaty.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said they want Britain to leave EU immediately to avoid more uncertainty.
Cameron , who had fought to remain in the European Union, told British Parliament on Monday that he will not invoke the so-called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, and would leave these formalities to be completed by his successor in October.
“Before we do that we need to determine the kind of relationship we want with the EU. And that is rightly something for the next prime minister and their cabinet to decide,” Cameron said in Parliament. Cameron’s successor is not expected to be appointed until September.
However, French President Francois Hollande has a different view on the issue.
“I regret the vote,” said Hollande, “but it’s now time to face the consequences.”
He said Britain should invoke the leave charter as soon as possible to allow EU organize things in everyone’s best interest.
Merkel said “there will be no informal or formal talks on the exit of Britain until an application has been filed to leave the European Union.”
Merkel called for the unity of EU and vowed that other members of EU would push on with the European project, saying that “we will suggest to our (EU) colleagues that we should put in place a new impulse … in the coming months”.
Hollande asked London to “not waste time”.
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