site.btaEU Commissioner Georgieva: Brexit Vote Will Make GovernmentsThink Twice Whether They Are Ready for Outcome in Referendums

EU Commissioner Georgieva: Brexit Vote Will Make Governments Think Twice Whether They Are Ready for Outcome in Referendums

Brussels, June 25 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva believes that the British referendum will make governments think twice whether they are ready for the outcome in referendums. Speaking to Bulgarian media in Brussels she said it was hard to tell if there will be out/in referendums in other EU countries.

All of Europe's friends are shocked because the European Union through its development has brought many benefits to European citizens and the world. Over the past decades a dozen countries made the most difficult transition from low to high incomes, Georgieva said.

She said that EU's shrinkage is a shock to everyone, but is not something which the European Commission has left unconsidered.

She described the outcome of the British referendum as "a very serious crisis".

"The big, existential question before Europe is whether we can have a union where those who seek closer integration can do it and those who don't can function within the EU. We are aware that we have an urgent need to decide where we are today and where we want to be," the Commissioner added.

"We should be closer to people and understand what appeals to them and what drives them away in the EU as it is today and make it better to better serve their expectations," she added.

Georgieva conveyed a message to Bulgarians that in a world full of so many risks European countries are stronger together and have a better chance to withstand pressure.

First and foremost the EC should focus on controlling this turbulent situation as soon as possible and only afterwards make assessments about what the EU should be like.

"We have been transitioning trough one crisis into another since 2008: financial, economic, of the eurozone, Greek, refugee, terrorism. Today's crisis are not polite and they don't wait for the previous one to pass. In view of these circumstances it is very tempting for nations to nationalize their achievements and collectivize problems. I hope that the outcome of this crisis will be stronger unity. Europe's strength comes from being together," said Georgieva.

She underscored that Europe is an old continent but a very young union and 65 years is a very short time for such a union. She drew a parallel with the US where 65 years after the Declaration of Independence of 1776, California and Texas were outside the union, the dollar was not a single currency and the Civil War was ahead. "Let's hope that we won't be in for such trials but a young union undergoes through such turbulent times which are positive and sometimes shocking," said EU Commissioner Georgieva.