As EU leaders in Brussels and the Member States struggle to come up with solutions following the Brexit, old disputes about proper economic and fiscal policy as well as the form and depth of European integration are bound to re-emerge. European leaders  are  the actors best placed to change prevailing ideas underlying policy-making and incite necessary reforms. During periods of unexpected sudden crisis dominant ideas can become vulnerable and challenged by alternative, competing ideas.

The European project faces the most difficult period in its post-war history. The Member States of the European Union are grappling with challenges and dangers which have forced them to revisit the principles that have traditionally underpinned thinking about the nature of European integration. In the face of growing crises, many citizens and social groups across Europe feel distant from and even outright hostile to the EU in its current form.

Apart from Switzerland, European countries do not frequently include their citizens in the law- and decision-making process. Since the 1970’s, referendums on the European integration have occurred in several member and non-member states. Three different types of referendums can be distinguished: accession referendums, treaty-ratification referendums, and European issues related referendums. Forty-one referendums have been conducted on European issues in almost twenty countries.

Britain's vote to leave the European Union has fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent , giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its euro  currency.

Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demand referendums on membership of the union, while Italy's 5-Star movement says it would pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro.

Author : Bruno Lemaire, Discours à Berlin on 9 May 2016, Journée de l'Europe

"Europe devrait rimer avec puissance économique, avec démocratie, avec solidarité. Europe rime avec crise, avec montée des extrêmes, avec repli sur soi. En Pologne, en Hongrie, en République tchèque, en Finlande, mais aussi en France et en Allemagne, le populisme progresse, sous des masques différents, mais avec la même grimace de dégoût devant la construction européenne. Chacun le voit : nous sommes dans une impasse européenne. Nous devons en sortir au plus vite. 

Britain has spoken – and it has voted to leave the European Union: 52% of voters elected to Leave the European Union, while 48% opted to Remain.

Despite Euroscepticism in other countries, leaders may see this decision gives the EU a chance to redouble its efforts towards further integration and to restore a greater level of coherence to key policy areas. The fears in Brussels will be that the unity of Europe starts to unravel, putting economic stability and security at risk.

In 2014, the UK's official gross payments to the EU amounted to £ 19.1 billion but the UK receives an automatic rebate of £ 4.4 billion. This means £ 14.7 billion was transferred from the UK to the EU in official payments.

The UK public sector also receives from the EU

1. £ 1.1 billion (European Regional Development Fund)
2. £ 2.3 billion (European Agricultural Guarantee Fund)

This gives a nert contribution of £ 9.9 billion.

Number of Franchising Systems in Europe (2014 Est.)

1. Turkey: 1840
2. France: 1796
3. Spain: 1199
4. Germany: 990
5. Italy: 939
6. Poland: 930
7. United Kingdom: 930
8. Netherlands: 769
9. Sweden: 700
10. Portugal: 578
11. Greece: 456
12. Austria: 445
13. Hungary: 361
14. Belgium: 350
15. Finland: 294
16. Switzerland: 275
17. Czech Rep: 219
18. Denmark: 188
19. Croatia: 180
20. Slovenia: 109
21. Slovakia: 80

Total: 13627

Saint Petersburg, 16 June 2016

I would like to thank the Forum for its invitation, and to thank also all the people you never see who have organised this event. This year marks your 20th anniversary, and I offer you my congratulations and best wishes for the future.

Over the last two decades, this Forum has become a meeting point for business and politics. This year is no different. You have brought together more than 800 politicians and business leaders from every corner of the globe.

First, I would like to say a few words about why I am here today.

Potential Consequences of the UK votes to leave the EU on 23 June.

As of 14 June 2016: Leave 53% Stay: 47%