EU Leadership Issue Joint Statement About Brexit

A statement from European Union leadership about the results of the Brexit referendum has been issued, saying they “regret but respect” the decision.

The joint statement, signed by numerous leaders of the European Union, expresses sadness at the referendum results, while emphasising that EU law will remain in effect for as long as the UK is still in the EU.

RÚV reports that both Iceland’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Fishing and Agriculture have said that they will continue to maintain good relations with the UK, despite Brexit.

Iceland, while not a part of the European Union, is a part of the European Economic Area. The last poll taken on the subject shows that 51.4% of respondents were opposed or very opposed to Iceland joining the EU.

Here is the statement from the EU leadership in full:

“In a free and democratic process, the British people have expressed their wish to leave the European Union. We regret this decision but respect it. This is an unprecedented situation but we are united in our response. We will stand strong and uphold the EU’s core values of promoting peace and the well-being of its peoples. The Union of 27 Member States will continue. The Union is the framework of our common political future. We are bound together by history, geography and common interests and will develop our cooperation on this basis. Together we will address our common challenge to generate growth, increase prosperity and ensure a safe and secure environment for our citizens. The institutions will play their full role in this endeavour.

“We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be. Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty. We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way. Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union sets out the procedure to be followed if a Member State decides to leave the European Union. We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union. Until this process of negotiations is over, the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, with all the rights and obligations that derive from this. According to the Treaties which the United Kingdom has ratified, EU law continues to apply to the full to and in the United Kingdom until it is no longer a Member.

“As agreed, the ‘New Settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union’, reached at the European Council on 18-19 February 2016, will now not take effect and ceases to exist. There will be no renegotiation. As regards the United Kingdom, we hope to have it as a close partner of the European Union also in the future. We expect the United Kingdom to formulate its proposals in this respect. Any agreement, which will be concluded with the United Kingdom as a third country, will have to reflect the interests of both sides and be balanced in terms of rights and obligations.”