UK Edition
The presidents of the European Union have declared that the bloc is “'way more stronger than any single country' as Britain prepares for Brexit tonight.
The three leaders warned Britain that if the UK diverged from Brussels’ rules after Brexit trade would suffer.
Boris Johnson is expected to say there will no alignment with EU rules after Brexit ahead of tough trade negotiations expected to begin at the end of February or beginning of March.
The leaders pledged that Brexit would make the remaining 27 member states of the EU more united and that the European Project would continue.
“Strength does not lie in splendid isolation but in our unique union,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in Brussels.
“It is clear Europe will defend its interests in a determined manner. Only those who acknowledge rules of internal market can benefit from the common market,” she warned.
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said “We want and we wish to have the closest ties possible with Great Britain.”
“We have to be very clear if the UK decides to diverge from EU standards it will have less access to the single market,” he added
David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, said, “We will have to defend our interests in a friendly and fraternal way.”
“Today marks a wound. Today we have to take stock of the decision of the British people,” he said, “This day will go down in the history of the EU but will allow our institutions and countries to be far more united and much prouder in our defence of this great vital area,” he added.
“As the sun rises tomorrow a new chapter for our union of 27 begins,” Mrs von der Leyen said, “Tomorrow is not the end but a beginning.
"Tomorrow almost half a century of the UK’s membership of the EU is over. When the UK joined I was still at school, we were six member states, tomorrow we will be 27 member states. All these years, 47 plus years, our union has gained political impetus and become a global powerhouse.”
She said that the threat of Brexit, especially to Ireland, had forged a new sense of unity and strength among the EU27.
Mr Michel said that Brexit should herald the creation of a “stronger and more ambitious European Union”.
“This is an exceptional, special day for the European project,” he said, “what is the dominating feeling for me is that it is important to look to the future of the European Project.”
“We have to roll up our sleeves and deliver tangible results for the European citizens,” he said.