Verhofstadt: '#Brexit should be a wake-up call for another, reformed European Union'

Commenting on the referendum outcome, ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt said: "It is sad that a majority of the British people have decided to leave. We should now aim to ensure a quick and friendly divorce, in order to avoid unnecessary unrest on the financial markets, negative impacts on trade and job losses. The EU cannot be taken hostage by a Tory leadership wrangle. We need an article 50 notification now."

Verhofstadt believes that the EU should use this momentum to make the EU work again. "More and more Europeans feel Europe isn't capable of handling the multiple crises we are facing today. The EU went too far in trying to deal with the small things, while not coming up with sufficient solutions for the big issues that people care about most: the refugee crisis, the economic crisis and the security crisis.

“The result of this referendum is a wake-up call. We will only be able to turn the tide by working more efficiently together.

“Europe has to reform to survive. A monetary union without a political union will simply not work. Europe will not be able to protect its citizens against terrorist attacks if our intelligence services do not work together. And an internal market without borders will not work as long as we do not manage to protect our external borders."

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