Shocked members urge solidarity and change

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker went into crisis talks on Friday

 

Shocked EU leaders have called for stability and solidarity - but also for change and reform - after the UK voted to leave the organisation.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the remaining 27 members were determined to stay united.

But Italian PM Matteo Renzi said the EU had to change and become "more human and more just".
The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU after 43 years. David Cameron has announced he will step down as PM.

Global stock markets fell heavily on the news and the value of the pound has also fallen dramatically.
The European parliament has called a special session for next Tuesday to assess the vote, while foreign ministers of the six founding nations of the EU - Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg, will meet in Berlin on Saturday.

Some leaders of EU member states, such as France's Francois Hollande, held their own crisis talks on Friday.

European parliament president Martin Schulz, president of the European Council Donald Tusk, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Dutch PM Mark Rutte also went into emergency talks.

They released a statement saying they regretted but respected the British decision and insisted the "Union of 27 member states will continue".