Angela Merkel, German Chancellor
“We have to recognize the decision of the majority of the British people with deep regret today…There is no point beating about the bush: today is a watershed for Europe, it is a watershed for the European unification process.”
Wolfgang Schauble, German Finance Minister
“Now we have to look forward and deal with this situation…The procedures for an exit from the European Union are clearly defined and will be applied.”
Francois Hollande, French President
“The British vote poses a grave test for Europe, which must show solidity and strength in its response to the economic and financial risks… It always takes less time to undo than to do, to destroy than to build. The choice is theirs, and we must respect it.”
Matteo Renzi, Italian Premier
“Europe is our home…that of our children and grandchildren…the house must be remodeled, maybe freshened up, but it's the house of our tomorrow.”
José García-Margallo y Marfil, Spanish Foreign Minister
“Our formula … is British-Spanish co-sovereignty for a determined period of time, which after that time has elapsed, will head towards the restitution of Gibraltar to Spanish sovereignty,”
Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament
“That'll have consequences and I don't believe other countries will be encouraged to follow that dangerous path,”
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council
“Today on behalf of the 27 leaders, I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as 27…it is a historic moment but for sure not a moment for hysterical reactions.”
Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF
We urge the authorities in the UK and Europe to work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition to a new economic relationship between the UK and the EU, including by clarifying the procedures and broad objectives that will guide the process.
We strongly support commitments of the Bank of England and the ECB to supply liquidity to the banking system and curtail excess financial volatility.
Geert Wilders, Dutch Right-Wing MP
“The Dutch people deserve a referendum as well. The Party for Freedom consequently demands a referendum on NExit, a Dutch EU exit…We want be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders, and our own immigration policy,”
Marine Le Pen, French FN Head
“Victory for Freedom! As I have been asking for years we must now have the same referendum in France and EU countries,”
Barack Obama, U.S. President
“The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world,”
Presumptive Democratic Nominee for U.S. President, Hillary Clinton
“This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House to protect Americans’ pocketbooks and livelihoods, to support our friends and allies, to stand up to our adversaries, and to defend our interests…It also underscores the need for us to pull together to solve our challenges as a country, not tear each other down.”
Presumptive Republican Nominee for U.S. President, Donald Trump
“They're angry over borders. They're angry over people coming into the country and taking over, and nobody even knows who they are. They're angry about many, many things…Basically they took their country back and that's a great thing.”
Vladimir Putin, Russian President
I think it’s comprehensible why this happened: first, no one wants to feed and subsidize poorer economies, to support other states, support entire nations,”
HuaChunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman
“It is true that with Britain leaving EU it will have an impact on different fields… Relevant departments [in China] will need time to go through this issue to determine the impact on China’s trade pacts and other agreements with the EU and Britain.”
Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister
“The U.K. and the EU are important strategic partners for Canada with whom we enjoy deep historical ties and common values. We will continue to build relations with both parties as they forge a new relationship.”
Alexis Tsipras, Greek Prime Minister
“The British referendum will either serve as a wake-up call for the sleepwalker heading toward the void, or it will be the beginning of a very dangerous and slippery course for our peoples,”
BinaliYildirim, Turkish Prime Minister
“Despite centering his campaign on Turkey, despite making several outlandish comments, British voters dismissed his claims and have informed Mr. Cameron that his views regarding Turkey were wrong.”
Pope Francis
“A great responsibility on all of us to guarantee the well-being of the people of the United Kingdom…(and) for the well-being and coexistence of the entire European continent.”