'Brexit' Fuels Heated Exchanges In European Parliament

(RTTNews) - European Parliament was the venue for heated and emotional exchanges over the "Brexit" on Tuesday as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker questioned the presence of the U.K. "Leave" campaigners, led by Nigel Farage, who was booed by members as he accused them of being "in denial".

Addressing a special plenary session of the European Parliament, Juncker said he was saddened by the U.K.'s decision to leave the EU but added, "We must respect the will of the British people."

Juncker's comment was welcomed with applause from the anti-EU U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage.

Turning to Farage, Juncker said, "To some extent I am really surprised that you are here." He also said that it would be the last time that the UKIP leader was applauding in the European Parliament.

"You are fighting for the exit, the British people voted for the exit, so why are you here?", Juncker asked.

He also accused Farage of lying, saying he "fabricated reality."

The top EU leader also urged the U.K. government "to clarify as quickly as possible the situation."

The EU leaders are holding talks with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron in Brussels on Tuesday. Cameron announced that he will step down in October and the talks over the U.K. should take place under a new PM.

The EU cannot settle for prolonged uncertainty over the "Brexit," Juncker said.

He also reiterated that there will not be any formal or informal, or secret, talks with the U.K. over the matter until the country invokes Article 50 of the Treaty of the EU that governs the exit process. He said EU officials are forbidden from discussing the "Brexit" with British government officials.

"No notification, no negotiations," Juncker said.

Commenting on the reports in German press, Juncker said, "I am neither tired nor sick."

"I will fight to my last breath for a united Europe," he said, adding that "this is not the time to break up again this continent."

Since the "Brexit" vote, some European political parties have called for Juncker's resignation, citing his role in the event.

In his speech, Farage, wearing an evidently triumphant look, said that the members of parliament were no longer laughing at the U.K.'s exit from the EU, something he proposed 17 years ago in the European Parliament.

Farage generated a lot of noise from the members of parliament when he said, "You as a political project are in denial. You're in denial that your currency is failing."

He accused the EU of imposing a "political union" on the U.K. and the rest of Europe through lying.

"We now offer a beacon of hope to democrats across the rest of the European continent," Farage said. "The United Kingdom will not be the last member state to leave the European Union."

The fiercely anti-EU Farage said the U.K. must not delay exiting the EU. He also attracted boos for saying that the members of parliament "have never done a proper job in your lives, or worked in business, or worked in trade, or indeed ever created a job."

He said he is seeking "a sensible, tariff-free deal" between the U.K. and the EU.

In contrast to the booing received by Farage, Scottish member of parliament Alyn Smith was welcomed with a standing ovation by the European Parliament for his passionate speech. Scotland had voted to "Remain" in the EU and is seeking a second referendum on independence following the "Brexit".

"We are proudly Scottish, and I am proudly European. I want my country to be internationalists, cooperative, ecological, fair - European," Smith said.

"And the people of Scotland, along with the people of Northern Ireland and people of London and lots of people from Wales and England, voted to remain within our family of nations."

He urged the EU not to "let Scotland down now!"

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to meet European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Wednesday to discuss the matter of remaining part of the EU.

Northern Ireland politician Martina Anderson also pleaded to remain in the EU, saying, "The last thing the people of Northern Ireland need is a new border with 27 member states!"

In his speech, Belgian politician and liberals' leader Guy Verhofstadt accused the "Leave" campaigners of using "Nazi propaganda" to win the referendum and urged that the Article 50 must be invoked immediately.

France's far-right politician Marine Le Pen said the "Brexit" was the most important historic event since the fall of the Berlin wall and called it "a slap in the face for 'EU tenants' and showed that the EU project is not irreversible."

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel took a tough stance on the EU trade deal with the U.K, urging British politicians not to delude themselves with unrealistic expectations.

Speaking at the Bundestag on Tuesday, Merkel said Germany will not allow any "cherry-picking" in trade negotiations with the U.K.

"There must be and will be a palpable difference whether a country wants to be part of the European Union or not," she said.

Merkel warned the U.K. that it cannot expect to keep only its privileges and shun obligations. She said she will do everything in her power to preserve the unity of the EU.

The EU leaders are set to begin a summit later on Tuesday.

However, the "Leave" campaigners, including possible Cameron-successor Boris Johnson, continue to claim that the U.K. will retain its access to the single market despite leaving the EU.

While others top leaders such as Juncker are putting pressure on the U.K. to hurry with the divorce process, the most powerful and influential Merkel is widely expected to tread a middle-ground, allowing more time to the British side to come to terms with the reality of life outside the EU.