Premier Matteo Renzi said Monday
that Britain's vote to leave the European Union "weighs on the
history of the EU like a boulder".
"We are faced with a historic event," Renzi told the
Senate as he reported to parliament before this week's European
summit.
"Anyone who today tried to play it down or exploit it
would be making a political mistake".
Renzi spoke to United States Secretary of State John Kerry
on the telephone on Monday and the consequences of the Brexit
was among the issues discussed, ANSA sources said.
Renzi is set to fly to Berlin later on Monday for talks
with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois
Hollande and European Council President Donald Tusk ahead of the
European summit on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The EU has called on London to move quickly on exit
negotiations but outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron has said
he will not activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to start
off this process but will leave this to his successor.
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