With Britain gone, European Union to fight populism

Valletta - Britain launched the historic process of leaving the EU on Wednesday.

European leaders vowed Thursday to fight populism and prevent a hemorrhaging of the EU a day after Britain started the exit process. "Those who take aim at European unity threaten their own communities," EU President Donald Tusk told a congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Malta, which currently holds the presidency of the bloc.
"We must challenge the populists, we must say loud and clear that they are the opposite of modern patriotism.
"Today they are efficiently and cynically taking advantage of social fears and uncertainty, building their own model of security based on prejudice, authoritarianism and organised hatred. Our response must be clear and decisive," he said.
Britain launched the historic process of leaving the EU on Wednesday, but its European partners were quick to warn of the difficult path that lies ahead amid fears a good deal for London could encourage others to leave. The centre-right EPP, the biggest party in the European Parliament, approved a document after the congress warning that voters' fears were being exploited by "extremists from both left and right" and "time is running out".