Brussels, 24/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - While respecting the result of the British referendum, the heads of state and government of the EU member states said on Friday 24 June that the referendum result shows the need to reform the EU.
Germany. “There is no question that today is a blow for Europe and for the process of European integration”, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel told press. “The EU is quite good at bringing the right response”, she added, saying that Germany had a particular responsibility for European unification being a success. Merkel stated that it was important “to show citizens the concrete advantages of the EU in their everyday lives” and added that in an age of globalisation it was not possible for a state to manage alone. “The goal of the negotiations will be to ensure the closest cooperation possible with the UK”, she added.
France. French President François Hollande said that the British referendum vote put “Europe seriously to the test”. “Europe can no longer do as before (…) It must show its robustness and strength in these circumstances,”, he said in an address at the end of a ministerial meeting. “The danger is immense in the face of extremism and populism (…) Europe is a big idea and not only a big market, and it's doubtless due to forgetting this that it has become lost”, he said. Hollande announced that France would take the initiative for Europe to focus on the essential - security, investment for growth and jobs, tax and social harmonisation, and strengthening the eurozone and its democratic governance.
Ireland. Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that his government would publish a summary of the main measures it would take to address the unforeseen events resulting from the UK's decision. He added that the implications of the referendum result on Northern Ireland and on relations between the north and south of the island needed careful examination (see other article) and that Ireland would take account of the interests of its citizens living in the UK in the Brexit negotiations with the EU. “Ireland, of course, will remain a member of the EU. It's deeply in our national interest”, Kenny stated. “We must now begin a period of reflection and debate on how we can renew the Union of 27 and equip it to meet the challenges to come”, he said.
Italy. For Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, “we must change Europe to make it more human and more fair. But it is our home and our future”. He told press that “our European home” must be “renovated and refreshed”.
Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said that “all the member states, together, must reflect on how to fight, like never before, in order to regain the vigour of the founding spirit of the European integration project and recover citizens' interest, affection and attraction” for this project. “Now we have come out of the crisis, we must bring the EU's action closer to the needs of its citizens”, he said in his address.
Portugal. “We must respect, with serenity, the decision of the majority of the British people, with the certainty that the European project remains legitimate for defending the values that mark our common identity”, Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated.
Poland. Poland's Secretary of State for European Affairs Konrad Szymanski said the EU's role was “to limit the damage in our relations with the UK”. It is important to be ready to restore our economic and political relations with the UK, which remains a great European neighbour, he said. In his view, the EU should start to think about “changes and reforms because otherwise we still risk losing one or two countries in the next five or six years”. “A smaller EU is not the solution to the challenges we have today”, he said.
Hungary. On Hungarian radio, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the most important lesson to retain was that Brussels should listen to the voice of the people and that the British decision should be respected because “every nation has the right to decide its destiny”. In Orban's view, the British voted Leave to show their dissatisfaction with European management of the migration crisis.
Czech Republic. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said the EU should change fast. “Europe must be more ready to act, to be flexible, less bureaucratic and more sensitive to the diversity that the 27 member states represent”, he said. In his opinion, the British vote does not mean the end of the EU.
Slovakia (see other article).
The Netherlands. Bert Koenders, the Dutch minister for foreign affairs and president of the Council, said that after the British referendum result the EU will have to take care of the real concerns of citizens, be this on jobs, security or migration. He said he hoped the negotiation process would be “transparent and predictable” and that it would begin as soon as possible.
Belgium. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called for calm and not panic. “The results are a blow to the European project. It's important to stay cool-headed, to bounce back and take initiatives. This referendum must be used and transformed into chance and opportunity”, he said. He launched a “solemn call” to the 27 member states and to the president of the European Council to hold a conclave in July. “We must set out our priorities and start a new future for Europe”, he said.
Luxembourg. At the end of the government Council, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel spoke of a decision that he “regretted, but that needed to be respected. The challenge is now to ensure the EU remains attractive. Let's not punish those who believe in the European idea”.
Austria. For Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, “today [Friday] is not a good day for Great Britain, for Europe, (…) for our country”. In his view, the EU needs a reform that must focus “clearly on economic and social issues”. “It is not possible for us to speak continually about competitiveness”, he added. “What can we do to ensure the European project is again perceived well by the people?” he asked, nevertheless not fearing a domino effect.
Malta. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said his government would “never” hold a referendum on his country belonging to the EU. “I will not let my country commit suicide”, he told press. “It's time for more reflection, and not for more Europe. The EU must change and the solution is not 'more of the same Europe', which will only foster greater distrust among the people”, he said, stating that “Europe is a tremendous project”. Malta will take on the European Council Presidency in the first half of 2017, and Muscat announced that his country was perfectly prepared to play an important role in the negotiations for Brexit.
Sweden. Ann Linde, the Minister for European Affairs and Trade said that the British decision would make the EU "weaker" but that it was a "wake-up call" to the EU, which should attempt to bring people together and provide real responses to challenges such as the migration crisis, climate and employment. She explained that her country would not go down the British road: "We are not going to ask for a referendum to be held or changes to the treaties; we want stability and a strengthened dialogue with the people". She did, however, say that she was concerned that populist and xenophobic parties would benefit from the "Brexit".
Denmark. The Danish Foreign Minister, Kristian Jensen, said the Denmark, "is a member of the EU and will continue to be. A majority of the Danish people want to remain in the EU". This feeling was shared by the country's Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who rejected the appeal by the populist anti-immigration party in Denmark to hold a referendum on remaining in the EU.
Finland. Prime Minister Juha Sipila said that the "European project will continue despite the Brexit".
Greece. The Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, said "We need immediate democratic change and progressive breakthroughs in Europe. Changes in the perceptions and mentalities and deep changes in policies". He added that they also needed "a new vision for a better Europe… Where policies will regain primacy over business and technocrats".
Cyprus. The Cypriot Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, stated that his country respected the decision by the British people and that the EU should show "unity and continuity". He added "We must show that we can resolve this situation and we need to follow steps towards banking and capital markets union".
Estonia. The Estonian Prime Minister, Taavi Roivas, declared "We as EU leaders cannot afford to become shell-shocked - we need to keep our heads cool, stay united and carry on".
Latvia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs "regrets the outcome of the United Kingdom's European Union membership referendum. The United Kingdom will remain an important ally and international partner to Latvia. A solution acceptable for all the involved parties needs to be reached. This is an unprecedented occasion in the EU's history; therefore, it is difficult to predict the length and outcome of this process."
Latvia. Algirdas Butkevièius, the Prime Minister, explained that they "Did not expect Brexit to happen, but we stand for close and dynamic relations between the EU and the UK in the upcoming years".
Slovenia. The Slovenian Prime Minister, Miro Cerar, said that he regretted but respected the will of the EU referendum and added "The EU has to be preserved and strengthened as a union of peace, cooperation, freedom and security".
Croatia. Miro Kovac, the Croatian Foreign Minister, said "We will make an appeal to ensure that the exit does not have an effect on enlargement but we have to be realistic, there will be consequences". He added that his country would have to "adapt politically" to the United Kingdom leaving.
Romania. The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, said "Romania will manage the major impact of Britain leaving the EU without any problem".
Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boïko Borissov, warned that "Only Bulgaria, Romania and Greece will remain (inside the EU) once the domino effect is launched". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant, Maelle Didion, Lionel Changeur and Pascal Hansens)