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Merkel Vows to Keep Europe Together After ‘Brexit’ Merkel Vows to Keep Europe Together After ‘Brexit’
(about 2 hours later)
BERLIN — Stunned by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, leaders of the bloc’s member states began converging in Brussels on Tuesday to respond to what is arguably the greatest challenge ever to confront the 28-nation bloc. BERLIN — Stunned by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, leaders of the bloc’s member states converged in Brussels on Tuesday to respond to one of the greatest challenges ever to confront the 28-nation bloc.
Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain will join his counterparts to discuss the aftershocks from the British referendum on Thursday, but he will then return to London — leaving the other leaders to ponder their response to Britain’s decision. Before departing for Brussels, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said she would use “all her strength” to prevent the European Union from drifting apart.
Before departing for Brussels, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said she would use “all her strength” to prevent the European Union from drifting apart in the wake of Britain’s decision. In a 20-minute speech to the Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament, Ms. Merkel said she expected that Britain would want to maintain “close relations” with the European Union after it leaves, but also signaled that Britain could not expect business as usual. “Whoever wants to leave this family cannot expect to have no more obligations but to keep the privileges,” she said.
In a 20-minute speech Tuesday morning to the German Parliament, Ms. Merkel said she expected that Britain would want to maintain “close relations” with the European Union after it leaves, but she also signaled that Britain could not expect a business-as-usual approach. Ms. Merkel reiterated that there could be no talks with Britain on leaving the European Union until Britain starts formal procedures to leave — a point she made on Monday after meeting with the leaders of France and Italy — and quashed any idea of exploring alternative arrangements before then.
“Whoever wants to leave this family cannot expect to have no more obligations but to keep the privileges,” she said. “The talks can begin only then, and not before — either formally or informally,” she said.
Ms. Merkel reiterated that there can be no talks with Britain on leaving the European Union until Britain starts formal procedures to leave, a point she made on Monday after meeting in Berlin with President François Hollande of France and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy.
In her address to the Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament, Ms. Merkel firmly quashed any idea of exploring alternative arrangements with Britain until it formally takes steps to leave the European Union, reminding London that it cannot “pick and choose.”
Britain has to tell the rest of the European Union “that it wants to end its membership,” she said. Only after that can the 27 other members stipulate the process and conditions. “The talks can begin only then, and not before — either formally or informally,” she said.
She made clear that Britain could not expect full access to the European Union’s common market without accepting its conditions, including the free movement of people. Immigration was the crux of the often ugly debate that accompanied the so-called Brexit campaign.She made clear that Britain could not expect full access to the European Union’s common market without accepting its conditions, including the free movement of people. Immigration was the crux of the often ugly debate that accompanied the so-called Brexit campaign.
“There must be and will be a noticeable difference between whether a country wants to be a member of the European Union family or not,” Ms. Merkel said.“There must be and will be a noticeable difference between whether a country wants to be a member of the European Union family or not,” Ms. Merkel said.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, denounced the nature of the debate within Britain, where he has often been a punching bag for the tabloids. Arriving for the leaders’ meeting, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain told reporters, “I’ll be explaining that Britain will be leaving the European Union, but I want that process to be as constructive as possible, and I hope the outcome can be as constructive as possible.”
Mr. Cameron will dine with his counterparts Tuesday evening to discuss the aftershocks of the British referendum on Thursday, but will then return to London — leaving the other leaders to spend Wednesday reflecting on the bloc’s future.
At a special meeting of the European Parliament on Tuesday, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the European Union’s executive body, denounced the nature of the debate in Britain, where he has often been a punching bag for the tabloids.
“I am accused of being undemocratic, as a faceless bureaucrat, as some kind of robot,” he said. “That’s the way I’m portrayed in the United Kingdom. I respect what the British people have said. But I think we’ve got to see some consequences. I don't think we should see any shadowboxing or cat-and-mouse games. We need to know — and this is pure common sense — that new relations are beginning with the United Kingdom.”“I am accused of being undemocratic, as a faceless bureaucrat, as some kind of robot,” he said. “That’s the way I’m portrayed in the United Kingdom. I respect what the British people have said. But I think we’ve got to see some consequences. I don't think we should see any shadowboxing or cat-and-mouse games. We need to know — and this is pure common sense — that new relations are beginning with the United Kingdom.”
He said there would be no “secret negotiations” with British officials, and he cautioned anti-European parties throughout the Continent against celebration.He said there would be no “secret negotiations” with British officials, and he cautioned anti-European parties throughout the Continent against celebration.
Mr. Juncker vowed that “the European dream will continue” and insisted that “this is not the time to turn inward.”Mr. Juncker vowed that “the European dream will continue” and insisted that “this is not the time to turn inward.”
At a meeting of the European Parliament, anti-European lawmakers gloated over the British referendum, saying that it was a deserved comeuppance for a European Union whose leaders they have described as elite and out-of-touch. The European Parliament adopted a nonbinding resolution that asks Britain to set the clock ticking “as soon as possible” on the Article 50 process, which could lead to a withdrawal from the European Union in two years. (An earlier draft of the resolution had called on Britain to invoke the legal process “immediately.”)
“You as a political project are in denial,” Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-European, anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party and a longtime member of the European Parliament, told fellow lawmakers, citing the problems in the eurozone and the refugee crisis. “But the biggest problem you’ve got — and the reason, the main reason, the United Kingdom voted the way that it did — is that you have, by stealth, by deception, without ever telling the truth to the British or the rest of the peoples of Europe, you have imposed upon them a political union.” Before the vote, anti-European lawmakers gloated over the British referendum, saying that it was a deserved comeuppance for a European Union whose leaders they have described as elite and out-of-touch.
“You as a political project are in denial,” said Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-European, anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party and a longtime member of the European Parliament, citing the problems in the eurozone and the refugee crisis. “But the biggest problem you’ve got — and the reason, the main reason, the United Kingdom voted the way that it did — is that you have, by stealth, by deception, without ever telling the truth to the British or the rest of the peoples of Europe, you have imposed upon them a political union.”
He added personal insult to his critique. “Virtually none of you have done a proper job in your lives,” he said, as the groans and jeers continued. “Or worked in business or worked in trade or indeed ever created a job.”He added personal insult to his critique. “Virtually none of you have done a proper job in your lives,” he said, as the groans and jeers continued. “Or worked in business or worked in trade or indeed ever created a job.”
“Isn’t it funny,” Mr. Farage said. “When I came here 17 years ago and said I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, you’re not laughing now.”“Isn’t it funny,” Mr. Farage said. “When I came here 17 years ago and said I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, you’re not laughing now.”
On a more sober note, Mr. Farage said he would “like to see a grown-up and sensible attitude to how we negotiate a different relationship” with the European Union.On a more sober note, Mr. Farage said he would “like to see a grown-up and sensible attitude to how we negotiate a different relationship” with the European Union.
He said there were strong reasons for the European Union to maintain ties to Britain after it leaves the bloc. “Between your countries and my country, we do an enormous amount of business in goods and services,” he told the European Parliament. “That trade is mutually beneficial to both us. That trade matters. If you were to decide to cut off your noses to spite your faces and to reject any idea of a sensible trade deal, the consequences would be far worse for you than it would be for us.”He said there were strong reasons for the European Union to maintain ties to Britain after it leaves the bloc. “Between your countries and my country, we do an enormous amount of business in goods and services,” he told the European Parliament. “That trade is mutually beneficial to both us. That trade matters. If you were to decide to cut off your noses to spite your faces and to reject any idea of a sensible trade deal, the consequences would be far worse for you than it would be for us.”
As the chamber filled with murmurs of disapproval, Mr. Farage continued, “Even no deal is better for the United Kingdom than the current, rotten deal that we’ve got.”As the chamber filled with murmurs of disapproval, Mr. Farage continued, “Even no deal is better for the United Kingdom than the current, rotten deal that we’ve got.”
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing National Front in France and also a member of the European Parliament, joined Mr. Farage in deriding the bloc.Marine Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing National Front in France and also a member of the European Parliament, joined Mr. Farage in deriding the bloc.
“The vote by our British friends in favor of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union is by far the most important historic event that our continent has witnessed since the fall of the Berlin Wall,” she said. “To those who never ceased to proclaim that the European Union was irreversible, the British people have provided a biting refutation. It is a resounding victory for democracy; it is a slap to the supporters of a European system that is increasingly based on fear, blackmail, and lies.”“The vote by our British friends in favor of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union is by far the most important historic event that our continent has witnessed since the fall of the Berlin Wall,” she said. “To those who never ceased to proclaim that the European Union was irreversible, the British people have provided a biting refutation. It is a resounding victory for democracy; it is a slap to the supporters of a European system that is increasingly based on fear, blackmail, and lies.”
She added: “The British people have just committed the ultimate sacrilege. They have shattered the chains that bound them to the European Union. To the European Union propagandists who are supposedly on the left, in the center or on the right, go ahead, put away your sulking faces, put away your furious speeches and rejoice instead for the liberation of the people.”She added: “The British people have just committed the ultimate sacrilege. They have shattered the chains that bound them to the European Union. To the European Union propagandists who are supposedly on the left, in the center or on the right, go ahead, put away your sulking faces, put away your furious speeches and rejoice instead for the liberation of the people.”
Though Mr. Farage and Ms. Le Pen got the most attention, a Scottish member of the European Parliament, Alyn Smith, received a standing ovation when he gave an impassioned speech noting that a majority of Scots voted to stay in the European Union.
“We will need cool heads and warm hearts, but please remember this: Scotland did not let you down,” Mr. Smith said, his voice rising. “Do not let Scotland down now.”
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, planned to head to Brussels on Wednesday to explore options for keeping Scotland in the European Union, and on Tuesday asked the Scottish Parliament, meeting in Edinburgh, to endorse her negotiations.
“I want to be clear to Parliament that while I believe independence is the best option for Scotland — I don’t think that will come as a surprise to anyone — it is not my starting point in these discussions,” she said. “My starting point is to protect Scotland’s interests, to protect Scotland’s relationship with the E.U.”
For all the speeches, the legal process is in limbo for now. Mr. Cameron has refused to invoke Article 50, the formal mechanism for leaving the European Union, saying the specifics of when and how to do so should be left to his successor. His governing Conservative Party is about to embark on a fierce leadership contest that is supposed to yield a new party leader — and a new prime minister — by Sept. 2.For all the speeches, the legal process is in limbo for now. Mr. Cameron has refused to invoke Article 50, the formal mechanism for leaving the European Union, saying the specifics of when and how to do so should be left to his successor. His governing Conservative Party is about to embark on a fierce leadership contest that is supposed to yield a new party leader — and a new prime minister — by Sept. 2.
Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party was in disarray, with lawmakers planning a no-confidence vote in their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Cameron and Mr. Corbyn both supported remaining in the European Union, but Labour lawmakers say that Mr. Corbyn did not do nearly enough to make the case for staying. The opposition Labour Party is also in disarray, with lawmakers planning a no-confidence vote in their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Cameron and Mr. Corbyn both supported remaining in the European Union, but Labour lawmakers say that Mr. Corbyn did not do nearly enough to make the case for staying.