Britain must 'quickly' announce exit from EU: Commissioner

The nation must notify Brussels of its intention in order to avoid prolonged uncertainty, EU's economic affairs commissioner said

Britain must "act quickly" and notify Brussels of its intention to leave the European Union to avoid prolonged uncertainty, a top European commissioner said today.

"There needs to be a notification by the country concerned of its intention to leave (the EU), hence the request to (British Prime Minister David) Cameron to act quickly," Moscovici, the EU's economic affairs commissioner, told French media.

"There is no reason to prolong the uncertainty," he added.

Moscovici was referring to notification via Article 50 of the EU's 2007 Lisbon Treaty, which Britain must cite in order to initiate the exit process.

Under EU law, only the member state concerned can notify Brussels of its intent to quit.

An exit cannot be forced on Britain by Brussels, despite the June 23 referendum which saw a majority of British voters opt out of the EU bloc.

The very day the referendum was held, Cameron announced he would resign by October, raising speculation over whether he would himself notify Brussels -- or whether he would leave that task to his successor.

"Everyone agrees on the fact that a three-month waiting period is too long. But after (the notification is submitted), there will be months, years of negotiations" to re-define Britain's ties with the EU, Moscovici said.

Despite voting to leave the bloc, Britain "remains a strategic country", he added.

Asked whether there could be a way back from Brexit, Moscovici said no.