Opening the extraordinary session, European Parliament President Martin Schulz noted that this was the first time that a plenary session had been convened at such short notice, but also that the UK citizens’ decision to leave the EU was equally unprecedented. He warmly welcomed Lord Hill and thanked him for his work in the EU Commission and deciding to step down, having campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU. His statement was followed by standing ovations from both MEPs and Commissioners.

“It will be in the interest of us all to ensure that a future relationship will be constructive and mutually beneficial.  No-one will benefit from a prolonged period of political limbo”, said Dutch minister Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, representing the EU’s rotating presidency. “At the same time, we should allow the UK the time it needs to recuperate and take the necessary decisions. Now, a part of Europe’s challenge is to convince citizens that unity remains the best choice. The fact that fragmentation is no longer unthinkable, should gravely concern us all”, she added.

“We must respect the will of the British people”, said European Commission President Jean-Claude JUNCKER, and “there must be consequences”. He asked the British government to “clarify” the situation as soon as possible, so as to prevent uncertainty. “No notification, no negotiations”, he said, insisting that there would be no secret or informal talks with London. To UKIP leader Nigel Farage, he said, “you are fighting for the exit, the British people voted for the exit, so why are you here?”

“We won’t leave you on your own”, EPP group leader Manfred WEBER (DE) promised Britain’s youth, more than 73% of whom voted “remain.” Populists had won the referendum, he said, adding “shame on you” to Nigel Farage, whom he called a “liar” in a reference to allegedly false campaign claims. “We now expect an Article 50 notification and swift and fair exit negotiations”, he insisted, adding that “the times of appeasement are over” and urging politicians to stop “bashing Brussels” and take responsibility.

Now that the British people have spoken, it is time to look to the future and stop replaying the past, said ECR group leader Syed KAMALL (UK). The EU treaties are clear and they must be respected, he added, calling for clarity about the timetable for the withdrawal negotiations. Britain and the EU must remain close partners for years to come and Britons must become “good neighbours and not reluctant tenants”, he said.

Following a call of order by the president to calm the chamber to allow for the next speaker to be heard, EFDD leader Nigel FARAGE (UK) noted that those who had laughed at him 17 years ago, when he arrived in Parliament announcing a campaign to leave the EU, were not laughing now. “You, as a political project, are in denial”, he said, predicting that the UK would not be the last member state to leave the Union. He warned that if the EU were to reject “a sensible trade deal”, then the consequences would be far worse for the 27 than for the UK. “Even no deal is better for the UK than the rotten deal we have now”, he said.

ENF leader Marine LE PEN (FR) called the UK vote the “by far the most important historic event since the fall of the Berlin wall” and an outcry of love of the British people for their country. It was a slap in the face for “EU tenants” and showed that the EU project is not irreversible, she added. Delaying implementation of the decision would not be democratic, she warned.

The whole report can be found online here