EU plots future without Britain

Brussels — British Prime Minister David Cameron fended off anger Tuesday from other European Union leaders at an unprecedented summit charged with uncertainty about the bloc’s future without Britain. As leader after leader rejected Cameron’s pleas for favorable conditions for Britain once it leaves, he frustrated them by refusing to initiate the divorce proceedings immediately.

At what may be his last EU gathering, Cameron sat at one end of the oval summit table in blue shirt sleeves, arguing for the best possible exit conditions for his island nation. Around the table, other EU leaders refused to negotiate, seemingly eager to kick Britain out as soon as possible to avoid further political and economic turmoil after the shock and emotion of the British vote to leave last week.

“Europe is ready to start the divorce process, even today, without any enthusiasm, as you can imagine,” said summit host, EU President Donald Tusk.

Outside the Council room, markets were still in upheaval as they sought to recover from the unexpected exit vote, which will rob the EU of its biggest military power, its second economy and a diplomatic giant.

In a special session of the EU parliament hours earlier, there had been cries of campaign “lies” from legislators regretting the loss of Britain, and taunting by “leave” campaigner Nigel Farage.

“You as a political project are in denial,” declared Farage, leader of the anti-EU U.K. Independence Party. “When I came here 17 years ago and said I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, you’re not laughing now, are you?”

When the traditional family photo of the leaders at the summit was taken, few were smiling.

Realizing the threat of a rift further tearing at the unity of a bloc of more than 500 million people, Tusk said he was planning a special meeting of the EU leaders minus Cameron in Slovakia in September to chart a way ahead. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to use “all her strength” to prevent the EU from drifting apart.

Cameron was facing calls to start the exit talks as soon as possible, but he has said such negotiations should not be launched before he resigns in October, and a new British leader can lead the talks.

“Britain will be leaving the European Union but I want that process to be as constructive as possible,” Cameron said.

However, Britain has for decades been an obstructive partner as the EU sought more unity, so Cameron’s counterparts put little trust in those words.