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1st Ld-Writethru: EU will respect decision of British people: Tusk

Xinhua, February 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

European Council President Donald Tusk here on Wednesday said the European Union (EU) would respect the decision of British people with regard to the country's decision on whether or not to stay in the EU.

Tusk made the remarks when making an opening statement at a plenary debate at the European Parliament, saying "if the majority votes to leave, that is what will happen. It will change Europe forever. And it will be a change for the worse."

"On the other hand, if Britain decides to stay, I hope the European Parliament will also ensure that the agreed settlement is transformed into the necessary legislation and will enter into force," he said.

Tusk noted that 28 heads of state and government unanimously agreed and adopted a legally-binding and irreversible settlement for Britain in the EU.

He said leaders agreed to do all this in a way that does not compromise the EU's fundamental values such as the freedom of movement and the principle of non-discrimination, and without compromising the future development of the economic and monetary union.

He said a decision concerning a new settlement conformed to EU treaties and cannot be annulled by the European Court of Justice. But it will only enter into force if the British people vote to stay. If they vote to leave, the settlement will cease to exist.

"Despite many difficulties, the leaders did not walk away from the negotiation table because we were fully aware of the stakes involved, namely keeping the UK in the EU and the future geopolitics of Europe," he said.

"Only the British people can and will decide that. What we could do on our side was to agree a new settlement for Britain within the EU. And we did," said Tusk

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday announced that Britain would hold a referendum on June 23 to allow people to come to a decision on Britain's EU membership.

The announcement was made a day after British and EU leaders reached a deal on Britain's "special status" in the bloc. Endit