Mixed emotions in Europe after Britain crashes out of the EU

Mixed emotions in Europe after Britain crashes out of the EU
By Euronews
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Europeans across the continent displayed a host of different emotions after hearing that Britain has crashed out of the EU.

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Europeans across the continent displayed a host of different emotions after hearing that Britain has crashed out of the EU.

In Italy, one of the most pro-EU member states, one Roman expressed his disbelief at the referendum result.

“I must say that I was shocked. It is a day of grief for me today, really a bad day. My first thought was for my daughter, because I thought that we will leave to her a worse world,” Dante Palladino said.

In the French port of Calais, only 30 or so kilometres from Britain, many appeared blase about the massive continental shift underway just across the channel.

One woman who brought out a British twenty pound note from her purse, sounded a note of optimism that there would be no major changes to her life.

“We need an identity card. Anyway, we have always needed it. And about money, it won’t change too much. I don’t think there will be a big change,”

Citizens of some EU states have already seen massive changes to their lives and none more than in Greece which came close to being kicked out of the eurozone during its debt crisis.

In Greece which came close to being kicked out of the eurozone during its debt crisis, one Athenian warmly welcomed Britain’s show of defiance against Brussels.

“It’s the best thing they’ve ever done and I hope with all my heart that Greece also leaves,” Maria, a pensioner, said.

In a far richer European capital, Vienna, the mood in one of its squares was more of caution and regret.

“I would have preferred if they had stayed in, I hope there won’t be any negative effects for the Brits as well as for us,” said a woman called Elfeide.

One man, Thomas Huemer, echoed her.

“Very unexpected, we have to learn to handle it, let’s hope that it will not be the beginning of the end of the European Union.

And that is the question to which no one in Europe, no politician or analyst, has an answer to right now: will Britain’s exit from the bloc have a domino effect or is the EU simply too big to fail?

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