EU ministers urge the UK to Brexit at full speed

[thenews]

Statement released earlier following a meeting in Berlin 25 June 2016

The six founder EU members, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands  first joined forces in the 1950s and still form the core of the EU.  They've met in Berlin following the UK's historic decision to leave the EU.

German foreign min Steinmeier said:

"This process should get underway as soon as possible so that we are not left in limbo but rather can concentrate on the future of Europe.

The leaders made clear they saw the possibility of months of uncertainty before serious talks begin as unacceptable for the 27 other member states.

French foreign min Ayrault warned of the dangers of delay. "We have to give a new sense to Europe, otherwise populism will fill the gap,"

[thenews]

Hollande, Merkel discuss Brexit, agree on strategy: French source

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in a half-hour phone conversation on Sunday how to handle the aftermath of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, an aide to Hollande said.

Although Berlin and Paris have been sending conflicting signals on Brexit since Thursday's referendum, the aide said: "They noted their full agreement on how to handle the situation created by the British referendum."

They also discussed the need to act quickly on a set of specific priorities and "they hoped for full clarity to avoid uncertainties," the aide said, giving no further details.

Merkel will host talks in Berlin on Monday with Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Over the weekend, as Europe began digesting the prospect of an EU without Britain, a cacophony of conflicting signals were being sent out by Europe's politicians despite a joint paper from the German and French foreign ministers meant to minimize their differences and highlight common ground.

source