He met earlier Wednesday with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country now holds the EU’s rotating presidency, “to discuss the consequences of the referendum and initiatives that should be taken for Europe whatever the result”, Hollande’s office said.
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On Thursday, UK citizens voted on their country’s fate in the European Union.
The French leader noted that a Brexit would put Britain at a “very serious risk” of losing access to the bloc’s single market, which guarantees the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people.
“That’s the rule, that’s the effect”, Hollande said from the Elysee Palace.
Minutes later, the head of the European Commission took a similarly tough line, saying Britain would not be able to renegotiate better terms to stay in the EU should it vote to leave on Thursday. But irrespective of the result, our position is clear: “the European Union should develop further”, Ms Szydlo told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. “Today, doubts are creeping in everywhere, populism, nationalism are taking over”, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told parliament.
French president Francois Hollande joined the chorus of European Union leaders pleading with United Kingdom voters to remain in the EU.
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Britain’s exit can not mean “business as usual” for the rest of the bloc, he said, adding the first departure of a member state “deeply challenges” the continent. He said he regretted but respected the British referendum’s outcome. “History and geography unite us in so many ways, economically, humanly, culturally and I don’t forget our close defense alliance, which will be preserved”.
