All key issues came to a head: the six longest months of the European Union. “There’s no going back”

Mark Rutte, disappointed but self-controlled. Guy Verhofstadt, angry but propositional. Jean-Claude Juncker, sarcastic and steadfast. Brexit’s low blow has (finally) activated a set of reflections on the future of the European Union. Indeed, it marks a complicated phase of the integration process, but it could turn out to be a fundamental passage to overcome the present standstill.

Coup de grace. Six months on an uphill road until the cold shower of the British referendum: “On June 24”, the day after the Brexit, “I had a terrible feeling. It was a great disappointment”, and we still “don’t have a clear picture of the future consequences of divorce” from London. “Surely, Europe’s problems will not disappear. Euroscepticism has spread to many countries. Now we must clarify as soon as possible the relations with the United Kingdom and limit the negative impact on citizens.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrived in Strasbourg on July 5 to report to the European Parliament on the six-month Presidency of the Council of EU ministers, held by the Netherlands in the first half of 2016. With a stretched smile he declared that the British “shock” further demonstrates that

“the solution to major problems requires stronger cooperation among EU Countries.”

Rutte made a detailed list of the issues that came to a head in the past six months: in January the negotiations for the agreement with Turkey on the refugee-emergency in the Aegean Sea; in February the negotiations with London to avoid the referendum; the terrorist bombing in Brussels in March; in April the need to extend, once again, a helping hand to Greece, coupled by the awareness that European economy has not yet overcome the economic and financial downturn; political instability in May, attacks and conflicts surrounding the EU (Syria, Turkey, East, Russia, Ukraine …); in June, the coup de grace with the Brexit vote.

“Like fleeing rats…” The floor goes to Guy Verhofstadt, staunch pro-European, Former Belgian Prime Minister, leader of the Liberals group in Strasbourg: “Last week brought two nasty surprises.” The first “surprise” is that the Brexit leaders do not seem to have a clue of what needs to be done.” He pointed a finger against David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage. He reiterated: “They remind me of rats fleeing a sinking ship.” Cameron resigned, Johnson backtracked from the Tories, while “Farage said he wants to go back to his life, that he needs more time for himself without renouncing the salary of the European Parliament.” Then another blow: “I think that probably the last man standing in Britain will be a woman…”, he said referring to the candidate of the Conservative, pro-Brexit party, overcome by the results. “It shall be like in the time of Margaret Thatcher: only a woman is capable to manage a divided Tory party.”

Change or die. What’s the second surprise? “The shocking, irresponsible reaction of the European Council before this political earthquake.” The “only reaction” of the 27 heads of Government and State gathered in Brussels “was to not change anything,” except for minor adjustments to Community policies. Verhofstadt raised his tone: “The Council doesn’t seem to understand that the referendum on Brexit wasn’t an isolated event. There was the referendum in Denmark, the referendum on the agreement with the Ukraine held in Holland. And now the United Kingdom.” Next October 2 there will be a referendum in Hungary on the “migration package”, the same day as the second round of the presidential elections in Austria… “What are national leaders waiting for – Verhofstadt asked –: for the next referendum in France or in Italy?” So what does the Liberal leader suggest?

“We must present a new project to EU citizens.”

“The truth is that our citizens are not against Europe. They are against this Europe! They want us to work for a different Europe that will deliver concrete results. If the EU doesn’t change, it will die.”

There will be no directorate. To complete the picture due attention must be paid to Jean-Claude Juncker, from Luxembourg, active on the European political scene for the past 30 years, present EU Commission president. His stirring remarks: “What ever happened to the Brexit promoters? They have become the sad heroes of our time that abandoned the stage one by one.” In his opinion, they are “recreationalist.” In other words…? “They are not patriots. The patriots do not leave when things get difficult, they remain.” It’s the same image presented by Verhofstadt, though Juncker didn’t mention the rats. “The truth is that they held the referendum without a plan for the next day.” In any case, British citizens voted in favour of leaving the EU… “Of course. However, they didn’t vote against the euro because they never adhered. They didn’t say no European defense because there is no European army. He continued: “Citizens have voted against the EU after years of lies and propaganda, and now they will have to pay the consequences. ” What will the Union do in the meantime? “We must regroup, adjust our course and proceed together” – Juncker said – and “above all, we must put into practice the decisions taken together.” Then all parties reprimanded the German Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, who advocated recovering agreements between States, “skipping” EU institutions: “there will be no Intergovernmental party, it has already done too much damage.” There is no going back. The European project requires solidarity-based cooperation. It doesn’t need a Directorate with Germany alone at the helm.