Schäuble, Germany's finance minister and long-time advocate of a "deeper" EU, has urged Europe's governments to quickly tackle and solve "several central problems" to restore trust among its 508-million population.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative ally told newspaper "Welt am Sonntag" (WamS) on Sunday that it was not the time for visions or treaty reforms.

Instead, "pragmatic" efficacy must be demonstated by the remaining 27 governments - assuming Britain formally exited the bloc, Schäuble said.

Shift to inter-governmental precept?

"If from the outset not all of the 27 pull their weight, then start with a few less," he told the paper. "And, if the [European] Commission does not act jointly, then we'll take the matter into our hands and just solve the problems between governments."

"This inter-governmental approach proved itself during the euro crisis," Schäuble added, mentioning Europe's asylum and migration policies as issues to which EU citizens wanted answers.

Europe's member states each needed to clarify what they could do at national level, and "what we can't do ourselves must be done at European level," he said.

Carrying on as usual was untenable amid "growing demagogy and deeper euroskepticism," he added.

Gabriel said the EU should concentrate on growth more than stability

Training for young, digital 'Cloud'

As solutions he listed an EU-wide training scheme for Europe's millions of young unemployed; an "energy union" to benefit eastern EU partners, joint EU military procurement to save money; and a European digital "Cloud" to challenge "the American monopoly."

"Let's be honest, the question of whether the European Parliament should get the deciding role or not is not one that especially moves the public," said Schäuble, who was one of the architects of German reunification in the early 1990s.

Meanwhile, Schäuble's jab at Germany's Social Democrat (SPD) Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for inviting his counterparts from the EU's founding nations to Berlin drew a quick repost on Sunday.

SPD chief whip Christine Lambrecht said Schäuble should stick to his finance portfolio and leave foreign affairs to Steinmeier.

Schäuble told the WamS that Europe's current priority should be to prevent "wildfire" disintegration and to avoid "the usual rhetoric," adding that dumping EU treaties was no immediate answer.

"We have to stay serious," he said, insisting that it was not the moment to concentrate on reform of EU institutions.

'Pushed' for Juncker

Asked whether Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker was the right person as current president of the European Commission, Schäuble replied, "I pushed for Juncker."

"A personnel debate doesn't get us any further. The Brexit decision must be a wake-up call for Europe," the cabinet veteran said.

"That's what it's about," the 73-year-old, who in the 1980s was ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl's chief of staff.

Asked about French and southern EU attitudes to the eurozone stability pact, Schäuble replied that "Europe-frustration" stemmed from the many rules established "but not upheld, also by the EU commission in the whole debt and Greece crisis."

In her weekly video podcast on Saturday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe should become the most "competitive and knowledge-based continent in the world."

Also on Saturday, Economy Minister and SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel said Europe must shift its emphasis to a "growth pact" based on investment programs and "active" policies to boost its labor market.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Vodafone The second-biggest mobile telephone company in the world is considering the possibility of moving its headquarters out of the UK following Brexit. Should Vodafone decide to relocate, Düsseldorf could emerge as a top contender to host the head office. Vodafone already has a presence in the German city, where it employs about 5,000 people. Moreover, Germany is the company's largest market.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Ryanair Europe's biggest low-cost airline is officially based in Ireland, but a substantial portion of its fleet has so far been stationed in the UK. However, it is all set to change now, with Ryanair announcing that it would no longer station its aircraft there. The carrier also said it would no longer operate flights out of the UK.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Easyjet Europe's second-largest low-cost airline is based in London. But for how long? "That remains to be seen," said CEO Carolyn McCall during a TV interview this week. Easyjet is one of Europe's most profitable companies.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Virgin Richard Branson is one of UK's most renowned business personalities. With regard to Brexit, he said: "Britain is heading for an economic disaster." His Virgin conglomerate has lost a third of its value since the British EU referendum vote. Brandon has urged the government to call a second EU referendum.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… JPMorgan Chase The biggest US bank employs 16,000 people in London. It is now mulling over plans to relocate a part of its British-based operations out of the UK. CEO Jamie Dimon had said prior to the referendum that between 1,000 and 4,000 jobs could be moved out of the City in the event of a Brexit.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Visa The credit card company will probably have little choice but to downsize its activities in the UK, leading to the slashing of hundreds of jobs. According to EU guidelines, the company must maintain a data center in an EU country. And that is likely to mean an end to the company's data center in London.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Ford Ford has repeatedly said the UK is a "key market" for the company in Europe. Ford's plant in Dagenham also supplies parts and engines to the firm's production sites in Germany. After the British decision to leave the EU, the company said it would take all necessary measures to remain competitive on the market.

Bye-bye, UK! We're leaving… Jaguar Land Rover Not all companies are pessimistic, however. "We are British and we stand by the UK," says Adrian Hallmark, strategy chief at Jaguar Land Rover. There have been no changes in our business plans, Hallmark assured, while the UK remains a full member of the EU at least for the next two years. Author: Zhang Danhong / sri



ipj/bk (dpa, AFP)