Immigration, security and the Single Market were also on the agenda.

In the view of the 27 heads of state and government, Europe is to be made fit for the future, even without the United Kingdom, by boosting growth, enhancing competitiveness and focusing on major common duties. The statement issued by the 27 declares, "Europeans expect us to do better when it comes to providing security, jobs and growth, as well as hope for a better future." It is not a question of more or less Europe, said Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday at the final press conference in Brussels, but of delivering results.

Europe of the 27

The Chancellor stressed that even with 27 member states Europe will have to master the challenges of the 21st century. "The EU must give people prosperity and security." The focus is still on protecting the EU’s external borders, jobs, growth, competitiveness and youth.

The Chancellor made it quite plain that the time has come to take action. "The world is in turmoil. The world will not wait for the European Union, and we in the European Union will have to deal with the consequences of instability, crises and war in our immediate neighbourhood. We must be ready and willing to act."

The next steps after the referendum

All 27 member states expressed their regret over the outcome of the UK referendum, reported Angela Merkel. "But we also made it clear that legal procedure must be followed, and that the United Kingdom must notify the European Council in line with the provisions of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty," she said. She would like to see this happen as quickly as possible.

Only then can the exit process begin. It will be handled jointly by the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission. Because of its authority, the Commission will play the key role in implementing the exit guidelines that are still to be hammered out by the heads of state and government.

Cooperation with the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom will only retain access to the Single Market if it undertakes to uphold the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital, stated the Chancellor. The European Council will lay out guidelines for the UK’s exit and for the future relations between the EU and the United Kingdom. The heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states will meet again in September 2016 in Bratislava, to discuss the UK’s exit from the European Union.

At the end of the first day of the meeting Angela Merkel had already stressed, with regard to the EU’s future relations with the United Kingdom, "We all agreed today that until such time as the UK officially notifies the European Council there can be no formal or informal negotiations with the United Kingdom."

British Prime Minister David Cameron attended the first day of the European Council meeting. It was the first time that he had met with the 27 EU member states since the Brexit referendum. The deliberations on the second day took place without the UK.

Measures to address illegal migration

One important item on agenda on Tuesday was migration. The European Council noted that there has been significant progress in implementing all measures covered by the EU-Turkey Agreement. The flow of economic migrants across the Central Mediterranean must, however, be reduced. This will save lives and break the business model of smugglers.

This is why the EU aims to swiftly conclude additional readmission and cooperation agreements, based on the EU-Turkey Agreement. They will also seek to better coordinate the development instruments of member states.

Support was assured for the initiative of the European Investment Bank in the Southern Neighbourhood and Western Balkan countries. In its Conclusions, the European Council recalls the need to provide continued support to Western Balkan countries. Further action is required to accelerate the implementation of the existing relocation and resettlement schemes.

Making the EU more competitive

Traditionally, the June meeting of the European Council focuses on economic matters. The heads of state and government endorsed the country-specific recommendations, thus allowing the conclusion of the 2016 European Semester.

A deeper and fairer Single Market will be crucial in creating jobs, boosting productivity and putting in place an attractive business and investment environment. The European Council has thus announced a number of measures to achieve this, including removing barriers to e-commerce, facilitating the cross-border selling of goods and services, abolishing roaming surcharges by June 2017 and realising the eGovernment Action Plan. Alongside reforms in copyright law and the legal framework for audiovisual media, high-performance broadband connections are to be ensured across Europe.

The European Council praised the initial concrete results of the Investment Plan for Europe and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI). This Fund is making an important contribution to mobilising private investment, while making smart use of scarce budgetary resources.

Members also discussed continuing negotiations on the TTIP and CETA free trade agreements. Angela Merkel said, "In connection with the free trade agreement with Canada, the Commission has made it clear that it does not consider it to be a mixed agreement. On behalf of the German government I have clearly stated that we would like to see a mixed agreement in which the national parliaments are also involved."

Common foreign and security policy

The members of the European Council welcomed the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, and invited Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to take the work forward. Angela Merkel pointed to the key message of ensuring "a stronger Europe in foreign and security policy". Cooperation between the EU and NATO was discussed in the presence of NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The European Council called for accelerated practical cooperation in selected areas. The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission are to issue a joint statement with the NATO Secretary General in Warsaw in July. The European Council also agreed to extend sanctions against Russia.

On Monday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande and Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi met in Berlin to discuss ways of revitalising the EU. In a joint statement they advocated important reforms in the European Union.