Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2016-07-06-Speech-3-015-000"
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"en.20160706.4.3-015-000"2
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"Mr President, much has been said over the last two weeks regarding the referendum in the United Kingdom. Things have been said in the heat of the moment, strong feelings have been expressed on all sides, and emotions have been running high. All this has been understandable. As you know, I supported Britain’s membership of the European Union and I had hoped for a different result. But we have a clear decision, and it is a decision that must be respected. We now need to move on.
Prime Minister, the Slovak Presidency of the Council comes at a critical time. Your government has a crucial role to play in re-setting the terms of the debate and looking forwards, not back. As we consider the future, we should bear in mind the words of Her Majesty the Queen, speaking just a few days ago. She said this: ‘One hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for quiet thinking and contemplation, which can in turn enable deeper, cooler consideration of how challenges and opportunities can best be addressed’. As we look ahead, we need that deeper, cooler consideration in our reflections on the future of the European Union and its relationship with the United Kingdom.
We need to reflect on the meaning of the referendum and how it expresses not just the concerns of the British people, but concerns felt by millions across the continent. Many want an effective European Union, but they want a limited European Union. That is the kind of reform that my Group will continue to champion. Discussions will shortly begin on the United Kingdom’s departure from the Union. We should be conscious that we are not simply discussing a technocratic withdrawal agreement; we are laying the foundations of a new relationship between the UK and the EU.
In the United Kingdom, we must maintain our best traditions of internationalism. The country I know and love is tolerant and welcoming, and this must not change. I deplore the racist and xenophobic actions of a small minority that we have recently witnessed. While Britain has chosen to leave the European Union, it has not voted to leave behind its traditional values of decency and of respect for all those who live amongst us and who make such a positive contribution to our country. In so many areas, we share mutual interests such as developing a thriving global economy, fighting terrorism and promoting a cleaner environment. So whilst the discussions will be detailed and complex, let us all approach them in a positive and constructive spirit. Let us build a renewed partnership between the United Kingdom and the European Union based on our shared values, our history of cooperation and our long-standing friendships."@en1
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