EU meets without UK, first time in 43 years

Brussels, June 29 

European leaders met today without Britain for the first time in 43 years to prepare for life after the Brexit bombshell, as the race to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron began.

Highlighting the seismic shock from last week’s referendum, one person who was in Brussels, however, was Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, “utterly determined” to see Scotland remain in the EU.

Britain “made the decision that it did. And this morning it looks like they aren’t sitting at the table any more,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said as he arrived on Wednesday. At a summit described as “sad” yesterday, Cameron won some breathing space from the remaining 27 leaders of the bloc five days after Britain rocked financial markets by voting to leave the bloc.

EU President Donald Tusk said he understood that time was needed “for the dust to settle” before the next steps can be taken. 

However, Juncker warned Britain did not have “months to meditate” before triggering Article 50, the EU treaty clause that begins the two-year withdrawal process-after Cameron’s successor takes office in early September. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that London could not “cherry-pick” the terms of the exit negotiations.

Top of the agenda at today’s EU meeting was how the remaining 27 members can bolster unity after the shock of the British vote. — AFP