2016-06-24 06:14:53
A wave of shock is reverberating around Europe as countries across the EU and
beyond digest the decision by UK voters to leave the European Union.
BBC correspondents across the continent report on the reaction and the likely
effect the result will have
Biggest crisis yet for Brussels - by Chris Morris
This represents the biggest setback in decades for those who support the idea
of European unity.
The EU has been dealing with multiple crises in recent years - but this could,
and probably will, dwarf them all.
Veteran European politician Carl Bildt has already spoken of immediate turmoil
and long-term uncertainty.
David Cameron's fellow leaders will expect him to invoke Article 50 of the
Lisbon Treaty next week, triggering a divorce negotiation lasting at least two
years - a vastly complicated legal and political process.
The rest of the EU will want to forge a good deal with the British government,
but in many capitals there will be little appetite for doing the UK any
favours. That's partly because Euroscepticism is on the rise across the
continent, and influential political leaders will not want to give the
impression that leaving is easy.
Shock for France - by Lucy Williamson, Paris
Despite all the irritation expressed here towards Britain's relationship with
the EU, news that one of the bloc's largest members is leaving will come as a
shock, with real implications for the country's own political debate.
Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen was among the first to respond
with a cry of "victory for freedom!" Now it was time for a referendum in France
and elsewhere in the EU, she tweeted. Her niece and party colleague, Marion
Marechal-Le Pen, said Europe would be a "major theme" in next year's
presidential elections.
That's something both the established mainstream parties here are concerned
about. Just before the British vote, President Francois Hollande issued harsh
warnings about the consequences of a Brexit, saying it could jeopardise
Britain's access to the single market.
In the meantime, France and the UK are facing the prospect of new bilateral
discussions on everything from trade ties, to residency rights for expats. And
there have also been some politicians calling for Paris to scrap the Le Touquet
agreement which governs the processing of UK-bound migrants in Calais.
Uncertainty in Dublin - by Shane Harrison
This is not the outcome the Republic of Ireland wanted.
The Irish government, which remained neutral in the Scottish independence
referendum, actively encouraged Irish citizens in the UK to vote to remain in
the EU.
The cabinet will meet this morning to consider what it calls the "very
significant implications" for Ireland, Britain and the EU. Then Taoiseach
(Prime Minister) Enda Kenny will make a public statement.
With uncertainty over what happens next and how long the process of UK EU
withdrawal will take, there will be concern in Dublin about what the vote means
for the border with Northern Ireland, the impact of a weakening sterling and
the effect on trade, which is estimated at over 1bn between the two states
every week.
Sinn Fein, which has MPs on both sides of the border, has called for vote on
whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK or should become part of
a united Ireland. But that is unlikely to be a priority for the Irish
government, which does not believe a vote for a united Ireland is likely to get
enough support.
In the course of the campaign Irish ministers disagreed with Northern Ireland
Secretary Teresa Villiers about whether the border would be "hard" or "soft" if
the British decided to leave.
Dublin said some a form of border control, whether on the border or at airports
and ports, was likely to be re-introduced because the Republic is the only EU
state to share a land border with the UK.
Nervous time for Greeks - by Richard Galpin in Athens
The Greek government had fervently wanted Britain to remain in the European
Union, a desire shared by most of the population.
So the result of the referendum is likely to come as a shock.
The main concern for Greece is that Brexit could end up damaging the fragile
Greek economy.
And this is reviving fears, which peaked during the financial crisis a year
ago, that a "Grexit" could be back on the agenda, with Greece ultimately being
forced out of the eurozone and perhaps even the EU.
This is partly based on what is already happening to the UK pound, which has
fallen in value against the euro and the US dollar this morning.
If this turns out to be a long-term phenomenon then the vital tourism industry
in Greece could be hit as British holidaymakers, who make up the largest
contingent of foreign visitors, may be deterred from coming because it will now
be more expensive.
There are also fears that Greek exports to Britain will be hit.
Experts believe these factors and the anticipated turbulence across European
markets, could sink the fragile Greek economy.
'Russia's not to blame' - by Steve Rosenberg in Moscow
There's a degree of schadenfreude in Moscow at the UK's Brexit vote.
Pro-Kremlin radio Vesti FM said the result showed "the problems of the Western
world are bigger than Russia's, and the speed of degradation in the West is
faster than here".
The presenter suggested that if Brexit "sparks the next wave of global
financial crisis, there's one positive: it'll be hard to blame us".
But the head of the foreign affairs committee of Russia's Upper House,
Konstantin Kosachev, was more measured: "Considering our difficult relations
with the EU now, there is a temptation to celebrate its misfortune. But I don't
share this view. The EU remains our biggest trade partner. And if the EU falls
apart at the seams, this will affect our trade."