Brexit Discussions in Bruxelles

The discussions about what to do after the Brexit referendum has moved to Bruxelles, where there has been a number of meetings in the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission in recent days.

At a meeting in the European Parliament, a smug and bellicose Nigel Farage told his fellow parliamentarians that

Isn’t it funny? When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign go get Britain out of the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?

[…]

I know that virtually none of you have never done a proper job in your lives, or worked in business, or worked in trade, or indeed ever created a job.

Ironically, he ended his speech by asking the members of the European Parliament to “grow up [and be] sensible”. Former Belgian Prime Minister and present leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Guy Verhofstadt quipped back: “OK, let’s be positive, we are getting rid of the biggest waste of EU budget: your salary.”

At the same meeting, an emotional Alyn Smith, MEP from the Scottish National Party, received a standing ovation from the crowd as he said that “I represent Scotland within this house and while I’m proudly Scottish, I’m also proudly European” and “Please remember this: Scotland did not let you down. Please, I beg you, do not let Scotland down now.”

In the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, David Cameron stressed that continued trade and security co-operation with Europe would be vital. Other leaders, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, said that the result of the vote must be respected. She urged the British government to set out plans for leaving the Union as soon as possible.

The need for a speedy clarification was also emphasized by Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who asked the British government to quickly activate the so-called Exit article, Article 50 in the Lisbon Treaty, as soon as possible after a new Prime Minister has been elected:

If someone from the Remain camp will become British prime minister, this has to be done in two weeks after his appointment. If the next British PM is coming from the Leave campaign, it should be done the day after his appointment.

Cover photo of the Berlaymont Building in Bruxelles by Glyn Lowe, released under a CC BY 2.0 license.