EU Council chief Charles Michel said it was “very important to explain the added daily value” in the wake of losing the UK after 47 years of membership, in a Brexit Day address. But EU Parliament President David Sassoli went further, warning internal forces are trying to bring along the demise of the European Union. He said: “Even within our countries there are people and forces trying to weaken the EU. What is their agenda?”

Mr Michel said: “It’s never a happy moment when someone leaves but we will open a new chapter and devote all of our energy in building a stronger and more ambitious European Union.”

“It’s very important point that we take much more consideration of expectations of citizens to the European Union and it’s very important to explain the the daily added value of this political project,” he added.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, mourned “losing a former member that was very pragmatic, very down to earth and very clear with the economic agenda”.

She added: “Let there be no doubt the challenges the EU faces and the opportunities that can be grasped have no changed because of Brexit.”

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