Brexit: Tusk proposes talks among remaining 27 EU countries
Responding to the UK vote to leave the European Union, European Council President Donald Tusk said on June 24 that he was proposing talks on the proceedings for Britain to leave the EU among the remaining 27 member states, during a scheduled June 28-29 European Council meeting.
Tusk said that this was “not a moment for hysterical reactions”.
“There’s no hiding the fact that we wanted a different outcome of yesterday’s referendum. I am fully aware of how serious, or even dramatic, this moment is politically. And there’s no way of predicting all the political consequences of this event, especially for the UK. It is a historic moment but for sure not a moment for hysterical reactions,” Tusk said.
He said that the EU was prepared also for this negative scenario. “As you know the EU is not only a fair-weather project”.
Tusk said that over the past two days, he had spoken to EU prime ministers and presidents as well as the heads of EU institutions about the possibility of a Brexit.
“Today, on behalf of the 27 leaders I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as 27,” Tusk said.
“For all of us, the Union is the framework for our common future. I would also like to reassure you that there will be no legal vacuum.”
Until the United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union, EU law will continue to apply to and within the UK. “And by this I mean rights and obligations,” he said.
All the procedures for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU are clear and set out in the treaties, Tusk said.
“In order to discuss the details of further proceedings, I have offered the leaders an informal meeting of the twenty seven in the margins of the European Council summit. And I will also propose to the leaders that we start a wider reflection on the future of our Union.
“Finally, it’s true that the past years have been the most difficult ones in the history of our Union. But I always remember what my father used to tell me: What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” Tusk said.
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)
