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Britain and E.U. Scramble to Respond After Referendum Britain and E.U. Scramble to Respond After Referendum
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — A day after the stunning announcement that Britain had voted to leave the European Union, the country and the bloc were grappling on Saturday with a decision that plunged Europe into a long period of uncertainty. LONDON — Leading European officials urged Britain on Saturday to move quickly to begin the long process of its exit from the European Union, after the vote to leave the bloc plunged Europe into uncertainty.
Emergency meetings were held all over Europe to discuss the consequences of the vote on Thursday and the way forward. Foreign ministers from six prominent European Union nations met in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was to hold talks with her coalition government, the Scottish cabinet convened, and financial companies around the world were expected to do the same to weigh the consequences of the vote. An emergency meeting of European foreign ministers from the European Union’s six founding member states — Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — in Berlin on Saturday revealed strong impatience with Britain.
The vote has already transformed the political and economic landscape in Britain, where Prime Minister David Cameron said he would resign by October, the stock market fell sharply, and Scottish leaders said another referendum on independence was a strong possibility. In a sign of the fraught cat-and-mouse game that could ensue, the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said negotiations on Britain’s departure from the bloc should begin soon.
As the European Union now confronts one of its worst ever existential crises, foreign ministers from six founding members of the bloc — Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — met in Berlin on Saturday to discuss the fallout from the vote. Mr. Ayrault warned that Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain would face “very strong” pressure to accelerate the process when European leaders met in Brussels at a European Union summit meeting on Tuesday.
The results of the referendum prompted emotional reactions across Europe, but the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, urged all sides to take a measured approach. “It’s totally clear that in times like these one should neither be hysterical nor fall into paralysis,” he said. Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the bloc, sounded the same theme. “It doesn’t make any sense to wait until October to try and negotiate the terms of their departure,” he said. “I would like to get started immediately.”
The decision by Britain to leave the bloc is a huge headache for Ms. Merkel, who was expected to meet with 20 top officials from her coalition government. Representatives of the British campaign to exit the Union said on Friday, however, that there was no urgency to beginning the two-year exit process by invoking Article 50 of the bloc’s governing treaty, which sets guidelines for severing political and economic ties.
Although Britain is trying to tread carefully into what could be a tortuous divorce, European leaders signaled they were determined to take a tough stance with Britain to prevent other European Union countries from attempting to leave the bloc.
In a sign of the challenges ahead, the far-right People’s Party-Our Slovakia said it was starting a petition to halt the country’s membership in the bloc, which it called a “sinking European Titanic.”
Mr. Cameron, who said on Friday that he would resign by October, has said that his successor should lead the negotiations, after he steps down.
The vote has already transformed the political and economic landscape in Britain, where Mr. Cameron said he would quit, the stock market fell sharply, and Scottish leaders said another referendum on independence was a strong possibility.
The decision by Britain to leave the bloc is a huge headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who was expected to meet with 20 top officials from her coalition government.
Her coalition of center-right and center-left parties has been falling in popularity and is divided over how to respond to the large number of migrants who have come to Germany over the past year.Her coalition of center-right and center-left parties has been falling in popularity and is divided over how to respond to the large number of migrants who have come to Germany over the past year.
Now, she is saddled with the added task of helping to shape the terms of Britain’s potentially acrimonious divorce from the bloc. Now, she is saddled with the added task of helping to shape the terms of Britain’s potentially acrimonious split from the bloc.
After the results of the vote were announced, Ms. Merkel urged calm. “It is a turning point for the European unification process,” she said on Friday.After the results of the vote were announced, Ms. Merkel urged calm. “It is a turning point for the European unification process,” she said on Friday.
Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who was a leader in the “Leave” campaign, is a possible candidate to assume the leadership of the Conservative Party.Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who was a leader in the “Leave” campaign, is a possible candidate to assume the leadership of the Conservative Party.
The vote could also have lasting consequences for the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, after two lawmakers in the party submitted a motion of no-confidence against him.The vote could also have lasting consequences for the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, after two lawmakers in the party submitted a motion of no-confidence against him.
Mr. Corbyn had been criticized by many in his own party for what they viewed as a halfhearted and ineffective approach to campaigning for Britain to remain in the bloc.Mr. Corbyn had been criticized by many in his own party for what they viewed as a halfhearted and ineffective approach to campaigning for Britain to remain in the bloc.
In a speech in London on Saturday, Mr. Corbyn made no mention of the no-confidence effort, instead telling supporters that Labour would fight to ensure that its agenda was at the heart of discussions as Britain negotiates its exit from the European Union. In a speech in London on Saturday, Mr. Corbyn largely ignored the no-confidence effort. Instead, he told supporters that Labour would fight to ensure that its agenda was at the heart of discussions as Britain negotiates its exit from the European Union.
He cited the importance of employment protections and human rights, said that the referendum had laid bare divisions in the country over immigration, and underlined the despair of those hit by austerity.He cited the importance of employment protections and human rights, said that the referendum had laid bare divisions in the country over immigration, and underlined the despair of those hit by austerity.
“Today it’s important we learn from what has taken place,” he said.“Today it’s important we learn from what has taken place,” he said.
Asked if he would run again if his leadership was challenged, Mr. Corbyn replied, “Yes, I am here.”
The referendum on the British departure from the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit, was deeply polarizing and is threatening unity in Britain.The referendum on the British departure from the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit, was deeply polarizing and is threatening unity in Britain.
The Scottish cabinet held an emergency meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday after the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said a day earlier that it was “democratically unacceptable’’ that Scotland should be removed from the European Union against its will.The Scottish cabinet held an emergency meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday after the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said a day earlier that it was “democratically unacceptable’’ that Scotland should be removed from the European Union against its will.
Scotland voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining in the bloc, and Ms. Sturgeon reiterated after the meeting on Saturday that a second independence referendum remained “very much on the table.”Scotland voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining in the bloc, and Ms. Sturgeon reiterated after the meeting on Saturday that a second independence referendum remained “very much on the table.”
She said Scotland planned to enter discussions with European Union institutions and European governments to protect Scotland’s place in the bloc and its vast single market.She said Scotland planned to enter discussions with European Union institutions and European governments to protect Scotland’s place in the bloc and its vast single market.
Ms. Sturgeon said she would establish an advisory panel on the legal, financial, and diplomatic implications of the vote in the coming days.Ms. Sturgeon said she would establish an advisory panel on the legal, financial, and diplomatic implications of the vote in the coming days.
The referendum result presents an enormous challenge to the European Union, which was already reeling from an immigration crisis, institutional sclerosis and the effects of the Greek credit crisis.
The bloc, once seen as a beacon of liberalism in a post-Cold War world for countries that lined up to join, now faces worrisome doubts about its future.
Although the long-term economic consequences of a British exit from the European Union are unclear, the vote rattled global financial markets and economists warned that the “Remain” camp’s warnings of economic instability and a future recession were now a possibility.Although the long-term economic consequences of a British exit from the European Union are unclear, the vote rattled global financial markets and economists warned that the “Remain” camp’s warnings of economic instability and a future recession were now a possibility.
The pound hit a 31-year low against the dollar on Friday. The fall is a boon for British exporters and could provide a fillip for the tourism industry, even as it will make Europeans vacations for Britons far more expensive.The pound hit a 31-year low against the dollar on Friday. The fall is a boon for British exporters and could provide a fillip for the tourism industry, even as it will make Europeans vacations for Britons far more expensive.
As markets plunged over the uncertainty, the credit ratings agency Moody’s lowered its outlook for the United Kingdom, citing the potential for weaker economic growth.As markets plunged over the uncertainty, the credit ratings agency Moody’s lowered its outlook for the United Kingdom, citing the potential for weaker economic growth.
It could take years for Britain to disentangle itself from the European Union, with messy and protracted negotiations that are expected to weigh on confidence and investment in the country.It could take years for Britain to disentangle itself from the European Union, with messy and protracted negotiations that are expected to weigh on confidence and investment in the country.
The vote laid bare deep rifts across Britain, with London, Manchester and Leeds supporting British membership in the bloc, along with a majority in Scotland, but a large stretch of England and Wales voting to leave.
The sense of shock was particularly acute in London, a cosmopolitan city and an important financial center, which reacted to the vote with anger, disappointment and even tears.The sense of shock was particularly acute in London, a cosmopolitan city and an important financial center, which reacted to the vote with anger, disappointment and even tears.
“I was crying yesterday,” Camila Diehl, 26, who works for a cancer charity in London, said on Saturday. “I just can’t believe this is happening, this is not the country I know.”“I was crying yesterday,” Camila Diehl, 26, who works for a cancer charity in London, said on Saturday. “I just can’t believe this is happening, this is not the country I know.”
Ms. Diehl, who has a Colombian mother and a British father, and who grew up in Paris, said she was worried about what the vote would mean for funding for scientific research.Ms. Diehl, who has a Colombian mother and a British father, and who grew up in Paris, said she was worried about what the vote would mean for funding for scientific research.
She is now questioning her future in Britain, she added.She is now questioning her future in Britain, she added.
Mayor Sadiq Kahn took to Facebook on Friday, saying that he wanted to “send a clear message to every European resident living in London — you are very welcome here.”Mayor Sadiq Kahn took to Facebook on Friday, saying that he wanted to “send a clear message to every European resident living in London — you are very welcome here.”
“There are nearly one million European citizens living in London today, and they bring huge benefits to our city — working hard, paying taxes, working in our public services and contributing to our civic and cultural life,” he wrote, calling for people to unite.“There are nearly one million European citizens living in London today, and they bring huge benefits to our city — working hard, paying taxes, working in our public services and contributing to our civic and cultural life,” he wrote, calling for people to unite.
Regardless of his intentions, however, the London mayor has little power to determine immigration policies.Regardless of his intentions, however, the London mayor has little power to determine immigration policies.
When his predecessor, Mr. Johnson, left his London home on Friday, a large crowed booed him and shouted “scum.”When his predecessor, Mr. Johnson, left his London home on Friday, a large crowed booed him and shouted “scum.”
A petition calling for the capital to vote to join the European Union has already drawn more 100,000 signatures, while a separate petition calling for a new referendum had the support of more than 1,200,000 people as of midday.A petition calling for the capital to vote to join the European Union has already drawn more 100,000 signatures, while a separate petition calling for a new referendum had the support of more than 1,200,000 people as of midday.