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STRASBOURG, July 5 (Xinhua) -- A heated session in the European Parliament on Tuesday saw insults and recriminations traded between members of European Parliament (MEPs) as they debated the implications of the Brexit referendum vote.
MEPs gathered ostensibly to discuss the conclusions of the European Council meeting of June 28 and 29, which was held to coordinate a response among the other 27 member states to Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
After an opening statement by Council President Donald Tusk, the debate quickly descended into angry claims and counter-claims about where the responsibility lay for the vote and the future direction of the EU itself.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said leading Brexit figures who recently quit were "retro-nationalists, not patriots."
"A patriot would not leave the boat when the situation becomes difficult," he said.
Manfred Weber, leader of the center-right European People's Party group, warned that the other 27 member states should not allow themselves to become "hostages to the political chaos in London."
Representing the Socialist group, Italian MEP Gianni Pitella was one of many parliamentarians who insisted that if Britain wanted to retain full access to the EU Single Market, it had to respect the free movement of people within the Union.
Liberal group leader Guy Verhofstadt said: "The rats are fleeing the sinking ship," referring to departing Brexiteers. He called on the EU Council to "stop sleepwalking to a disaster."
"A loose federation of states cannot work. Either the EU will change, or it will die. The Council needs to recognize that citizens are not against Europe, but against this Europe," he said.
Syed Kamall, leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, said the referendum result was a "wakeup call" for the EU. He warned against continuing as usual or putting too much pressure on Britain.
"EU leaders should instead use the current situation as an opportunity to reconnect with people, make the EU more transparent and focus on citizens' legitimate concerns, such as creating growth and jobs," he said.
"We in the Parliament should put aside the language of conflict and work together to get the best possible deal for both sides," said British MEP Paul Nuttall from UKIP. "I want us to be good neighbors and trading partners," he added. Enditem
