Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2016 shows the UK and EU flags outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)
by Xinhua writer Rahul Venkit
BRUSSELS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from across European capitals expressed their dismay and surprise on Friday following the "sobering, unexpected" outcome of the Brexit referendum.
After Britain voted by a narrow margin to leave the European Union (EU), German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against "quick and easy conclusions."
She announced a European crisis meeting over the Brexit to be held on Monday in Berlin, to which she had invited EU Council President Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and French President Francois Hollande.
"The European Union is strong enough to give the right answers to the present day," she said, adding Germany had a "special interest and a special responsibility that the European unity succeeds."
Meanwhile, leading German business groups on Friday urged measures be taken to limit the damage to bilateral economic relations between Germany and the UK.
In Athens, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for imminent action to change course and rebuild a better European Union.
"It is undoubtedly a difficult day for Europe. The project of the European integration has suffered a major blow. The decision of the British people is respected, but it confirms a deep political crisis, an identity crisis and a crisis in the European strategy," he said.
Significantly, Tsipras said what was needed was a progressive alliance and more democracy to counter "arrogant" technocrats.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Friday it was a sad day but that "it should be an opportunity for the 27 countries of the European Union to reflect about what these results mean and the need to respond to the expectations of European citizens."
He also highlights that Portugal will continue in its efforts to promote peace, freedom, democracy, wellbeing and common development, which he points out are at the center of the European project.
During a plenary session in Strasbourg, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt said: "A bit of the European ideal has disappeared today following the British vote in favor of leaving the Union."
Affirming that the democratic decision of the referendum must be respected, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland said: "The best way forward now is for the EU, in accordance with its best traditions, to work together with the UK government to obtain the most acceptable outcome for the citizens of UK and Europe."
The mood in Poland was one showing more support to Britain. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Great Britain had the right to decide on its future in the EU.
"The voice of the British people should send a warning signal and mobilize us to take further action. The disillusionment with European integration and declining trust in the EU can be observed in some member states and is something we must counteract by bringing the Union closer to the citizens," it said in a statement.
Referring to the numerous Poles working and living within the UK, the ministry added: "We will aim for a solution that guarantees the rights such EU citizens have acquired," emphasizing Poles make a considerable contribution to the UK's economy.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the biggest lesson of Britain's referendum was that Brussels needed to listen to what the people were saying.
Orban said: "The British were trying to find a way to resist the migration wave and retain control of their own lives."
At the same time, he continued, Hungary was a member of the EU because it believes in a strong Europe. But, "Europe is only strong if it can offer the kind of responses to very significant issues such as migration that strengthen it, not weaken it."
Speaking to Xinhua in Vienna, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Erhard Busek said he doesn't see the British decision as a rational choice.
"I think the decision of the British to leave the European Union is emotional, not rational," he said, adding Britain may find itself isolated without finding new partners in the world. But London's status as a financial center would not be easily changed.
Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann warned Friday that Switzerland's economy stands to be affected by the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, with political uncertainties likely to hamper Bern's ongoing negotiations with Brussels.
Though not an EU member state, Switzerland participates in the EU single market as a party to the European Free Trade Association.
"The UK's decision will contribute to rising doubts on Europe's economic perspectives," Schneider-Amman said in a statement.
Countries aspiring to join the EU, such as Albania, called Britain's vote "a sad decision for the EU."
Albanian Minister of Integration Klajda Gjosha said: "It is sad for Albanians who aspire to join the EU. Although, as long as the EU project is underway, the process of enlargement will and should continue."
Aspiring to join the EU since 2004, Macedonia is concerned about the effects of the so-called Brexit on the EU integration process.
With the results of the referendum in the United Kingdom, Macedonia is losing an important ally within the EU and a supporter of its membership, the Macedonian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Poposki said.
"For Macedonia and for the Balkan as a whole it will mean losing a fierce supporter of the EU integration process. It becomes obvious that the remarks of the ones complaining for a democratic deficit in the EU's decision process have to be heard. But as a country we have to remain focused on our national interests," stated Poposki in Skopje.
In Bucharest, Romania expressed its solidarity with the EU project. "Romania stays attached to the European design. Romania is convinced that the EU must go on, it is a good project and we must be a part of it," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov on Friday said the EU should conduct a thorough debate on its future and avoid a domino effect, adding the UK's choice caused "a deep disappointment."
In Slovenia, speaker of the Slovenian National Assembly Milan Brglez said the United Kingdom had set off on a path that will be "very hard and thorny."
He added the EU was the only right path for all European countries. "It is a path of democracy, peace and the rule of law. It is a path of economic development and prosperity."
Meanwhile, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said though he respects the will of the British people, he feels sorry about it.
"I'm personally sorry for this, but history hasn't come to a standstill, it goes on," said Kiska on Friday.
Echoing similar sentiments, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said: "It's no tragedy, but reality. The remaining 27 EU member countries now have to react quickly."
A lot of people in Europe reject the EU's migration and economic policy, he said. "We must propose more attractive approaches to issues that are being viewed negatively," said Fico.
Latvia's top officials voiced regret over the vote but expressed hope that the United Kingdom will remain an ally and partner of their country.
President of Latvia Raimonds Vejonis said: "The bloc's member states should do everything possible to retain the achievements of the integration process."
