Brexit: Macron ‘deeply unhappy’ as UK leaves the European Union

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European leaders have expressed disappointment on the UK leaving the EU, with France’s Emmanuel Macron emphasising Britain’s “unrivalled ties” with the French.

Mr Macron said he was “deeply unhappy” whereas the EU’s Man Verhofstadt pledged to try to “make sure the EU is a challenge you will wish to be part of once more”.

Celebrations and anti-Brexit protests had been held on Friday night time to mark the UK’s departure.

Ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis mentioned everybody could be a winner ultimately.

The UK formally left the European Union on Friday at 23:00 GMT after 47 years of membership, and greater than three years after it voted to take action in a referendum.

Brexit events had been held in some pubs and social golf equipment in addition to in London’s Parliament Sq., because the nation counted all the way down to its official departure.

In Scotland, which voted to remain within the EU, candlelit vigils and anti-Brexit rallies had been held.

In a message launched on social media an hour earlier than the UK left, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to convey the nation collectively and “take us ahead”.

“For many individuals that is an astonishing second of hope, a second they thought would by no means come,” he mentioned. “And there are various in fact who really feel a way of tension and loss.”

‘Not leaving Europe’

In an open letter to the British public, French President Mr Macron mentioned he was considering of the thousands and thousands of Britons “who nonetheless really feel deeply hooked up to the European Union”.

“You’re leaving the European Union however you aren’t leaving Europe,” he mentioned. “Nor are you turning into indifferent from France or the friendship of its individuals.

“The Channel has by no means managed to separate our destinies; Brexit is not going to accomplish that, both.”

Mr Macron additionally mentioned the EU should study classes from the “shock” of Brexit, including: “I’m satisfied due to this fact that Europe wants new momentum.”

And he defended the way in which France acted within the Brexit negotiations, saying neither the French nor anybody else within the EU was “pushed by a need for revenge or punishment”.

In the meantime, the EU Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Mr Verhofstadt responded to a message which had been projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover by a pro-EU group.

“We’ll take care of your star and work to make sure the EU is a challenge you will wish to be part of once more quickly,” he mentioned.

Talking on BBC Radio 4’s At the moment programme, Mr Davis – who give up as Brexit secretary in protest at former prime minister Theresa Could’s Brexit plan – mentioned it could be a “truthful race” to succeed in a commerce take care of the EU by the top of 2020.

The UK is aiming to signal a everlasting free commerce settlement with the EU, alongside the strains of the one the EU has with Canada, by the top of the transition interval in December.

Mr Davis mentioned reaching a deal was “not a charitable train, that is an train of either side recognising their very own finest pursuits”.

“We should always have began final March. That being mentioned, a whole lot of work has been accomplished,” he mentioned.

“It was going to be 21 months, now it is just 11, however nonetheless it may be accomplished within the time interval.”

European leaders have warned that the UK faces a tricky battle to get a deal by that deadline.

Mairead McGuinness, the vice chairman of the European Parliament, mentioned progress to agree a commerce deal “is likely to be left to the final minute”.

“Usually in commerce negotiations we’re attempting to return collectively,” she advised BBC Breakfast. “For the primary time we’re going try to negotiate a commerce settlement the place anyone needs to tug away from us. I…