British, EU, French envoys stress continuity after Brexit

SEOUL, July 1 (Yonhap) — Britain, the European Union and France will seek to maintain stability in their relations with each other and other nations despite the British people’s shock decision to leave the EU, their top envoys to Seoul said Friday.

A week ago, Britain became the first nation to vote to leave the 28-member bloc amid growing questions about national identity and the EU’s immigration policies.

The decision triggered a wave of uncertainty in both economic and political circles with global markets tumbling and calls rising for similar referendums in other parts of Europe.

Amid the chaos, British Ambassador to Seoul Charles Hay and his EU and French counterparts, Gerhard Sabathil and Fabien Penone, sat down with a group of young South Koreans to discuss the future of their countries and their relationships with South Korea.

British Ambassador to Seoul Charles Hay speaks during a forum at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul on July 1, 2016. (Yonhap)

“At the moment, the government is clear that they are going to go forward and follow the will of the British people which is to take the U.K. out of the European Union,” Hay said in his speech at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in southern Seoul.

Despite the many changes that will entail, many other things won’t change, he stressed.

“The U.K. is not suddenly going to float off into the Atlantic. We are going to be there as a part of Europe even if we’re not a member of the EU,” Hay said. “We will have very, very close trading and political relationships not only with our EU partners but with all of our other friends and allies.”

On the implications for South Korea, the ambassador noted the strong trade and investment ties that have underpinned the bilateral relationship.

“The EU-Korea free trade agreement still continues to apply to the U.K. as it always did,” he said, explaining that negotiations for Britain’s departure from the EU have yet to begin.

“I’ve already had conversations with a number of senior Korean people, most recently (Vice Foreign Minister) Lim Sung-nam, and we’re all clear that (what) we want to avoid is any legal uncertainty; we want to give continuity to trade and investment between our countries.”

Once Britain leaves the EU, the ambassador said he hopes Britain and South Korea will seal a bilateral free trade deal “of the same lines” as the existing EU-Korea FTA.

“I very much believe that we will work together successfully to implement a new free trade agreement, which will permit trade between our countries to continue; and I believe we’ll continue to work together with our shared values to address the issues of globalization,” he added.

Sabathil, meanwhile, expressed confidence in the future of the EU, saying the continent has been able to overcome many challenges in the past.

“We will not stop to build on the European projects,” he said. “I’m very optimistic that we will find settlement for the challenge which was posed last week by U.K. poll. It will not affect our close partners around the world.”

Penone, the French envoy, called for “clarity” from Britain.

“This is first for the British people and for the British politicians on what type of relationship (to have) with the EU,” he said. “For the other 27 member states, they are ready to renegotiate the relationship to ensure the perfect stability of Europe.”

EU Ambassador to Seoul Gerhard Sabathil (L) and his French counterpart, Fabien Penone, speak to each other during a forum at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul on July 1, 2016. (Yonhap)