Government faces pressure to begin Brexit negotiations immediately after landmark vote to leave the 28-member bloc.
European Union officials have called for the UK to start the exit process as quickly as possible after Britons voted to leave the 28-member bloc, prompting the resignation of David Cameron, the prime minister, and dealing the biggest blow to European efforts at greater unity since the second world war.
The outcome of Thursday’s EU referendum – a 52-to-48 split in favour of Britain’s exit – caused financial markets to fall sharply and brought the British pound down to a 31-year low, its biggest drop in history.
There are now fears the vote could set off a chain reaction of further breakaway bids by other EU members battling hostility to Brussels.
There are also fears the outcome could lead to the break-up of the UK itself after Scotland raised the prospect of another independence vote.
After meeting in Brussels, EU chiefs issued a joint statement said negotiations over the so-called Brexit should begin immediately.
“We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be,” said Donald Tusk, EU president; Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission chief; Martin Schulz, European Parliament head; and Mark Rutte, Dutch prime minister, whose country holds the six-month EU presidency.
Source: Al-Jazeera
