PRAGUE, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries, Germany and France held discussions after Britain's withdrawal from the EU here on Monday.
After meeting with his counterparts, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said Britain's departure will not stop EU development.
Zaoralek said the ministers agreed that European countries must seek solutions together to the result of British referendum. He said overhasty integration and pretending as if nothing has happened were both bad reaction to the situation after the British referendum on leaving the EU.
"The key is to develop a new relationship with Britain. They [Britain] are interested in a relationship of good quality and where we behave like friends who need each other. This depends not only on us but also on the UK," said Zaoralek.
Addressing the future of the remaining countries in the EU, Zaoralek said that they believe they must begin to discuss what Brexit means for the EU and what Union they want to have in the future.
While Zaoralek said they regret the decision of the British, it is something that "cannot stop and will not stop" the further development of the European Union.
He expressed the belief that member states urgently need the EU project for their life. "We are ready to do everything possible for this project to continue," he said.
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said Britain's departure from the European Union should begin quickly because people both in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe deserve to know what consequences the British decision to leave the EU will bring.
He said the six ministers would prefer the departure process to start so that the consequences can become clear soon. EU member states must take control of a EU revival, he added.
Lajcak said the referendum brought about a concrete outcome and they must live and work with it. He also dismissed the speculation that Poland wants to promptly adopt the euro as its currency in reaction to Brexit. He said Poland makes no effort to enter the euro zone at present since it does not meet the conditions for entry.
The V4 countries are Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.
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Six EU foreign ministers urge quick exit procedure of Britain
BERLIN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- After Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a historic referendum, foreign ministers from six founding countries of the EU met here on Saturday, pushing for a speedy exit procedure of Britain.
"This process should start as soon as possible," said German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier after a meeting with his counterparts from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg on Saturday in Berlin. Full story
