Brexit, the day after: 'New' Europe

The EU's founding states want Britain to begin leaving the union "as soon as possible" to keep the bloc from being stranded in "limbo", Germany's foreign minister said Saturday.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, hosting the six original states of the European Union in Berlin, said they were in agreement that London must not wait to start the complex procedure of extracting itself from the bloc.  

"We join together in saying that this process must begin as soon as possible so we don't end up in an extended limbo period but rather can focus on the future of Europe and the work toward it."

France

France's foreign minister urged Britain Saturday to quickly name a new prime minister so that the process of the country's exit from the European Union can begin.

"A new prime minister must be designated, that will take a few days," Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters at crisis talks in Berlin over Britain's shock referendum to quit the EU.

Italy

Italian ministers warned Saturday that the European Union must change direction or risk collapse after Britain's vote to leave the bloc.

"The unthinkable is happening," Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said. "A double reaction to Brexit is under way, one financial, one political. The financial one, at least until now, is limited. I am more worried about the political one.

"There is a cocktail of factors that can lead to various outcomes, including a further push towards disintegration."

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Padoan also said EU leaders had to understand there could be no more "business as usual" on the key issues of jobs, growth and immigration.

Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni meanwhile warned it would be naive to underestimate the significance of Britain leaving or the risk of a surge in anti-EU sentiment across the continent.

"The UK was not only one amongst 28 (member states). It had a great weight because of its financial markets and its international influence," Gentiloni said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero.

"The risk (of political contagion) is such that we need to send a strong and clear message (that we are) revamping the European project."

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Britain's planned departure from the European Union signalled the "beginning of a new era" and warned the bloc could face new breakups.

"I see this decision made by the people of Britain as the beginning of a new era for Britain and the EU," Erdogan said during a fast-breaking dinner late on Friday, in his first comments on the shock referendum result.

"Like the entire world, we expected a 'yes' result in the referendum but it turned out like that," he said.

Germany

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Saturday that the EU would weather the shock of the British vote to leave the union as he convened crisis talks.

"I am confident that these countries can also send a message that we won't let anyone take Europe from us," he said heading into a meeting in Berlin of his counterparts from the EU's six founding members.

Steinmeier called the European Union "a successful project of peace and stability" and said that there was a "strong desire" within the bloc to defend and strengthen it.

"I think it is absolutely clear that we are in a situation in which neither hysteria nor paralysis are permissible," he said.

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