Holding Europe together [The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results. Reaction in Germany]

Speaking on the 24 June 2016, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed disappointment in the result of the EU referendum in the UK on the 23 June 2016: 'There are no two ways about it. This is a bitter day for Europe ... We never stopped hoping that the British people would reach a different decision and vote in favour of the European Union'.

Mr Steinmeier noted that the decision to leave the European Union had been 'close, but clear'. 'First and foremost, we have to respect that', he said.

Ahead of a EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg on the 24 June 2016, he called for a clear message to be sent that 'while we are losing one member state, we are working to make Europe strong'.

Mr Steinmeier invited his counterparts the other founding member states to Berlin on the 25 June 2016 for talks on the future of Europe.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the result was 'a watershed moment for Europe'. The consequences would depend whether the remaining 27 member states 'will be willing and able to avoid drawing quick and simple conclusions' from the departure of the UK, 'that could further divide Europe'.

On the 25 June 2016 Chancellor Merkel commented on her hopes for the approaching negotiations with the United Kingdom. She said she hoped for a positive climate in the talks. She said there was 'no need to be particularly nasty' in the negotiations and that 'they must be conducted properly'.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results. Reaction in the EU Institutions and other EU Member States http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results-reaction-in-the-eu-institutions-and-other-eu-member-states/

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ECFR: Commentary, 18.08.16: Germany and the UK: Hints of a role reversal http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_germany_and_the_uk_hints_of_a_role_reversal_7072

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