Reps: Brexit spells big change for UK
The victory of anti-EU camp in UK's referendum shows a split in the British society and spells change for the country, said Mailis Reps, the Center Party's parliamentary group deputy chairperson and presidential candidate.
The outcome of the referendum was surprising as it was widely believed that it would be a close race in favor of the Remain camp, Reps said in remarks released by spokespeople for the Center Party parliamentary group, adding that the narrow victory of EU opponents means a split in the British society and signals a domestic change,
While admitting that it's effectively impossible to assess the eventual impact of the Brexit, she said it's clear that complex and restless times lie ahead for EU as a result of this decision.
"When it comes to the economy, much depends on which path UK will choose in interacting with the European Union ? whether they choose to remain in the EU common market or put an end to the free trade treaties. If the latter is the case, then the EU common market will suffer a very serious blow," she said.
Reps noted, however, that the exit of UK from the EU is a very long process that may take years.
"When Greenland decided in a referendum in 1982 to exit the then European Communities, it took them three years to put that into effect," she said. "Meanwhile, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has warned that the process of Brexit with all the negotiations on trade and immigration agreements may take up to seven years."
"Kidders have dubbed the entire process a lose-lose situation where neither Britain nor the European Union will win. This morning we could only see flashy smiles on the faces of euroskeptics alone. Personally, I consider this a very sad development," she added.
She said that UK has been a crucial force in the EU and that it's leaving will bring changes to the nature of relationships between the EU member states.
"The question remains, will the exit of Britain, which supported reforms in the EU, bring with it necessary reforms to the union? or will the EU continue along the same route? If the latter is the case, the popular vote in UK may not be the last," she concluded.
Editor: Abdulrahman Shalman