Malta’s interest is that the European Union is strong and united, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this evening.

Speaking at the European People’s Party Summit in Brussels, Dr Busuttil expressed his disappointment at the UK referendum result and said this was not just the result of populism and negative campaigns but also of the failure, in certain sectors of the EU.

Now was the time for the EU to think and not react hastily because it risked making a mistake at a delicate time, Dr Busuttil said.

He insisted that, more than ever before, it should be clear that those who voted to get out of the EU could not enjoy the benefits of membership.

“It is important that a clear message is sent that who is not a member of the union cannot be considered at the same level as full members,” he said.

He said that although the PN was in Opposition, it had already offered to cooperate with the government to offer its experience and credibility in the negotiations the Maltese government will be having with the EU in the coming weeks and months.

The summit was attended by, among others, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister elect Mariano Rajoy and European Peoples’ Party President Joseph Daul.