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| As David Cameron Leaves Brussels, E.U. Leaders Chart Future | As David Cameron Leaves Brussels, E.U. Leaders Chart Future |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BRUSSELS — Leaders of Europe appeared on Wednesday to be traversing the various stages of grief — anger in particular — as they began to chart a path toward a future without Britain. | BRUSSELS — Leaders of Europe appeared on Wednesday to be traversing the various stages of grief — anger in particular — as they began to chart a path toward a future without Britain. |
| In a move heavy with symbolism, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain returned to London early Wednesday morning after formally informing his fellow leaders in Brussels about the outcome of his country’s referendum on Thursday on leaving the European Union. Mr. Cameron has not, however, begun the legal mechanism that would begin the two-year process for withdrawing from the 28-nation bloc, leaving that decision to his successor. | |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President François Hollande of France made clear that Britain could not expect to retain the benefits of European Union membership without contributing to the bloc’s budget and accepting its bedrock principle of free movement of workers. | Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President François Hollande of France made clear that Britain could not expect to retain the benefits of European Union membership without contributing to the bloc’s budget and accepting its bedrock principle of free movement of workers. |
| Mr. Cameron, before leaving the 27 other European Union heads of state to continue their talks without him, told the leaders over a somber dinner that immigration had been a central reason that British voters, by a vote of 52 percent to 48 percent, elected to become the first nation to leave the union. | Mr. Cameron, before leaving the 27 other European Union heads of state to continue their talks without him, told the leaders over a somber dinner that immigration had been a central reason that British voters, by a vote of 52 percent to 48 percent, elected to become the first nation to leave the union. |
| Even so, Mr. Cameron expressed regret at failing to win the referendum. | Even so, Mr. Cameron expressed regret at failing to win the referendum. |
| The bloc faces a bewildering range of concerns beyond the pending divorce with Britain: a continuing migration crisis; pressures on the eurozone; a resurgent Russia; the precarious economy in several countries, notably Greece; terrorist attacks on the periphery of the Continent, like the one that killed scores at Istanbul’s main airport on Tuesday night; and populist, anti-European movements that are roiling domestic politics across a wide stretch of countries. | |
| Ms. Merkel said at a news conference on Wednesday at the conclusion of the summit meeting that there would be economic consequences to the “Brexit” vote, given that Britain is the world’s fifth-largest economy and represents up to 17 percent of the bloc’s gross domestic product. | Ms. Merkel said at a news conference on Wednesday at the conclusion of the summit meeting that there would be economic consequences to the “Brexit” vote, given that Britain is the world’s fifth-largest economy and represents up to 17 percent of the bloc’s gross domestic product. |
| “This will be a difficult road ahead for trade relations, for many other areas,” she said. “The faster any uncertainty is removed here, obviously, the better it is.” Ms. Merkel said that “this will certainly not lead to additional growth” and that there was a need “to offset what we lose here by the U.K. leaving us.” | “This will be a difficult road ahead for trade relations, for many other areas,” she said. “The faster any uncertainty is removed here, obviously, the better it is.” Ms. Merkel said that “this will certainly not lead to additional growth” and that there was a need “to offset what we lose here by the U.K. leaving us.” |
| As Dalia Grybauskaite, the president of Lithuania, arrived for the second day of the summit meeting, she told reporters that “we all need to wake up and smell the coffee.” She urged her colleagues “to prioritize our main goals, which people think we need to do,” and said that leaders “need to listen” to their citizens’ concerns about migration and the economy. | As Dalia Grybauskaite, the president of Lithuania, arrived for the second day of the summit meeting, she told reporters that “we all need to wake up and smell the coffee.” She urged her colleagues “to prioritize our main goals, which people think we need to do,” and said that leaders “need to listen” to their citizens’ concerns about migration and the economy. |
| Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, told reporters that a “renewal of the European project,” was needed, calling Britain’s withdrawal “a wake-up alarm” for the bloc. | Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, told reporters that a “renewal of the European project,” was needed, calling Britain’s withdrawal “a wake-up alarm” for the bloc. |
| As the scale of the blow delivered by British voters sunk in, one of the bloc’s most senior officials took to social media to express his anguish. | As the scale of the blow delivered by British voters sunk in, one of the bloc’s most senior officials took to social media to express his anguish. |
| The official, Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European commissioner for health and food safety, posted a picture on Twitter on Wednesday showing him with his head bowed, palms covering his eyes, as Nigel Farage, who leads the anti-European U.K. Independence Party, spoke in the foreground. | The official, Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European commissioner for health and food safety, posted a picture on Twitter on Wednesday showing him with his head bowed, palms covering his eyes, as Nigel Farage, who leads the anti-European U.K. Independence Party, spoke in the foreground. |
| Mr. Andriukaitis, in a blog post, said he had been “grimacing and trying to hide my despair” as Mr. Farage openly mocked the European Parliament. | Mr. Andriukaitis, in a blog post, said he had been “grimacing and trying to hide my despair” as Mr. Farage openly mocked the European Parliament. |
| Mr. Farage has denounced the European Union as an anti-democratic project run by elites. His insults prompted the sharp-tongued president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to tell him: “The British people voted in favor of the exit — why are you here?” | Mr. Farage has denounced the European Union as an anti-democratic project run by elites. His insults prompted the sharp-tongued president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to tell him: “The British people voted in favor of the exit — why are you here?” |
| The British vote has renewed talk of a second independence in Scotland, and the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, arrived in Brussels for talks with the European Union. Voters in Scotland, along with those in Northern Ireland, voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union, while voters in most of England and Wales voted to leave. | The British vote has renewed talk of a second independence in Scotland, and the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, arrived in Brussels for talks with the European Union. Voters in Scotland, along with those in Northern Ireland, voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union, while voters in most of England and Wales voted to leave. |
| “I set out very clearly Scotland’s desire to protect our relationship with the E.U.,” Ms. Sturgeon said. “I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie ahead on that path. This is very much an initial series of meetings in Brussels today so that people understand that Scotland does not want to leave the E.U.” | “I set out very clearly Scotland’s desire to protect our relationship with the E.U.,” Ms. Sturgeon said. “I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie ahead on that path. This is very much an initial series of meetings in Brussels today so that people understand that Scotland does not want to leave the E.U.” |
| Back in London, Mr. Cameron faced tough questioning from members of Parliament. Around three-quarters of lawmakers opposed leaving the European Union, and in calling the referendum, Mr. Cameron lost a huge gamble. | Back in London, Mr. Cameron faced tough questioning from members of Parliament. Around three-quarters of lawmakers opposed leaving the European Union, and in calling the referendum, Mr. Cameron lost a huge gamble. |
| “We want the closest possible relationship in terms of trading with the European Union,” Mr. Cameron told Parliament, mentioning the possibility that Britain’s trade relations with the bloc could end up similar to those of Canada, Norway or Switzerland. | “We want the closest possible relationship in terms of trading with the European Union,” Mr. Cameron told Parliament, mentioning the possibility that Britain’s trade relations with the bloc could end up similar to those of Canada, Norway or Switzerland. |
| Asked about Scotland’s disquiet, he said, “We need to negotiate the best possible deal for the United Kingdom and the best possible relationship, and that will also be the best possible deal for Scotland.” | Asked about Scotland’s disquiet, he said, “We need to negotiate the best possible deal for the United Kingdom and the best possible relationship, and that will also be the best possible deal for Scotland.” |
| Mr. Cameron said the other leaders insisted there would be “no negotiation without notification,” referring to Article 50, the treaty provision that a member state must invoke to leave the European Union. | Mr. Cameron said the other leaders insisted there would be “no negotiation without notification,” referring to Article 50, the treaty provision that a member state must invoke to leave the European Union. |
| “There was a mature and calm understanding that we need each other, we need this negotiation to proceed well,” he said, while reaffirming that he would not be overseeing the talks. | “There was a mature and calm understanding that we need each other, we need this negotiation to proceed well,” he said, while reaffirming that he would not be overseeing the talks. |
| Mr. Cameron, the prime minister since 2010, plans to step down. He intends to stay in Parliament, but as an ordinary member. “I will do everything I can, either in this job or as a backbench M.P., to keep this strong relationship with our European partners,” he told Parliament. | Mr. Cameron, the prime minister since 2010, plans to step down. He intends to stay in Parliament, but as an ordinary member. “I will do everything I can, either in this job or as a backbench M.P., to keep this strong relationship with our European partners,” he told Parliament. |
| In Brussels, in response to a question about the scale of the political crisis, Ms. Merkel drew a distinction between the referendum and the crises that included migration and the eurozone. | In Brussels, in response to a question about the scale of the political crisis, Ms. Merkel drew a distinction between the referendum and the crises that included migration and the eurozone. |
| “Now for the first time we are in the situation where one member wishes to leave us,” she said. “We are under no illusion whatsoever that it is, from a qualitative point of view, quite a different task.” | “Now for the first time we are in the situation where one member wishes to leave us,” she said. “We are under no illusion whatsoever that it is, from a qualitative point of view, quite a different task.” |