Germany, France, Italy vow ‘new impulse’ for EU

The leaders of Germany, France and Italy vowed Monday “a new impulse” for the EU as it reels from Brexit and told London that the bloc would make no deals before Britain formally decides to leave, reports AFP.
The EU’s three most populous continental nations signalled that the UK must first take the plunge of invoking Article 50 to exit before it can negotiate its future trade and other ties with the bloc.
Chancellor Angela Merkel—hosting French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Berlin—said that “we agreed on this, that there will be no informal or formal talks on the exit of Britain until an application has been filed to leave the European Union”.
British finance minister George Osborne had said earlier that his country should only activate Article 50 when it has a “clear view” of its future relations with the bloc.
Merkel also stressed that “there must be no period of uncertainty” that is prolonged, and that the EU must counter “centrifugal forces” in other EU countries pushing to leave the union. Hollande, somewhat more bluntly, urged Britain to “not waste time” in triggering the process to leave, arguing that it was to all parties’ benefit to move forward quickly.
“Being responsible means not wasting time—not wasting time in dealing with the question of Britain’s departure, not wasting time too in putting in place the new stimulus that we need to give to the European Union, that is to say, the 27 members.” “Because nothing is worse than uncertainty,” he added. “Uncertainty generates often irrational behaviour. Uncertainty also leads financial markets to act irrationally.”
In a joint statement the leaders said they “regret that the United Kingdom will no longer be our partner within the European Union” but said confidently that the EU “is strong enough to find the right answers”.
On the eve of a Brussels summit, they urged steps among the remaining 27 members to jointly boost cooperation on internal and external security as well as the economy and programmes to help youths.

 

Germany, France, Italy vow new impulse for EU

The leaders of Germany, France and Italy vowed Monday a new impulse for the EU as it reels from Brexit and told London that the bloc would make no deals before Britain formally decides to leave, reports AFP. The EUs three most populous continental nations signalled that the UK must first take the plunge of invoking Article 50 to exit before it can negotiate its future trade and other ties with the bloc. Chancellor Angela Merkelhosting French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Berlinsaid that we agreed on this, that there will be no informal or formal talks on the exit of Britain until an application has been filed to leave the European Union. British finance minister George Osborne had said earlier that his country should only activate Article 50 when it has a clear view of its future relations with the bloc. Merkel also stressed that there must be no period of uncertainty that is prolonged, and that the EU must counter centrifugal forces in other EU countries pushing to leave the union. Hollande, somewhat more bluntly, urged Britain to not waste time in triggering the process to leave, arguing that it was to all parties benefit to move forward quickly. Being responsible means not wasting timenot wasting time in dealing with the question of Britains departure, not wasting time too in putting in place the new stimulus that we need to give to the European Union, that is to say, the 27 members. Because nothing is worse than uncertainty, he added. Uncertainty generates often irrational behaviour. Uncertainty also leads financial markets to act irrationally. In a joint statement the leaders said they regret that the United Kingdom will no longer be our partner within the European Union but said confidently that the EU is strong enough to find the right answers. On the eve of a Brussels summit, they urged steps among the remaining 27 members to jointly boost cooperation on internal and external security as well as the economy and programmes to help youths.