UK departure won't affect European Union integration, Renzi says

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told China Daily on Tuesday that the UK referendum vote is a shock for the country, not a problem for the EU. [Photo by Fu Jing/China Daily]

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Tuesday that although the UK referendum vote to leave the European Union is a shock for Britain, and is a sad moment for Europe, it will not affect the process of EU integration.

Renzi is in Brussels attending a two-day meeting of European leaders, which begins this afternoon local time. UK Prime Minister David Cameron is going to attend today's meeting but will be absent from tomorrow's informal discussion among the leaders of the remaining 27 countries.

"Europe is a great family, with great values. So the shock of the leave decisions by the UK don't block and stop incredible history of our integration of Europe," said Renzi when responding to China Daily before the building of European Commission.

"We must invest in our historic values and fight against rising unemployment and inequality of this bloc to push forward integration," he said.

He said that without any preparation for such an outcome, the leave decision has brought immediate shock for UK. "But this is not a problem for the EU."

Contact the reporter on fujing@chinadaily.com.cn