Berlin, 27/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Angela Merkel, François Hollande and Matteo Renzi hope to relaunch the European project in three points before March 2017 and are (impatiently) awaiting the United Kingdom's notification of its intention to leave the European Union.
“Until the United Kingdom has notified its request in the framework of Article 50 of the Treaty, there is nothing we can do”, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the French President, François Hollande, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, said in Berlin on Monday 27 June. “There will be no formal or informal discussions until that happens”, Merkel added.
But speed will be of the essence, the three leaders stressed. “We understand the political situation in the United Kingdom and we must show respect, but we must also expect the United Kingdom to show the European Union some respect”, Hollande added.
Renzi said there was no question of a U-turn: we have to show the citizens that “you don't mess about with democracy” and take account of the vote of the British. “We need to take note of the United Kingdom's decision and get on with our lives”, he repeated.
In the meantime, “we intend to make proposals to breathe new life into Europe”, Merkel announced, adding that these three priorities would be security, growth and employment, and the euro. She stressed security policy and border controls, whilst Hollande focused more on the deepening of fiscal and social policy in the eurozone and an investment policy, in the fields of digital and energy in particular.
The steps in the procedure are out in the open: Germany, France and Italy will present their ideas to the European Council on Wednesday (see other article), before making “concrete proposals in a number of specific areas in the coming months”, Merkel said.
The aim is to conclude in March 2017, at the ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the 1957 Treaty of Rome to be arranged by Italy but, Merkel stressed, “we will have to make progress between now and then”. For his part, Hollande wishes to move forward with all possible speed to prepare for the departure of the United Kingdom. Given the reactions of the markets and in order to “reduce the period of uncertainty, it is vital that a timetable is notified tomorrow or the day after, along with a process”, Hollande said.
Focusing on the opportune moment to act that may have been caused by the British referendum (see EUROPE 11580) - the Greek concept of kairos, he added - Renzi voiced his hopes for “a new lucidity” in Europe, as if it had woken up on the day after the British referendum with the “awareness of having lost a very precious object”.
The three leaders adopted a joint statement in which they highlight three priority areas for action: security, the economy and social cohesion, and youth. (Original version in French by Nathalie Steiwer)