AFP France's Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told Britain to hurry up and quit the EU

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Speaking in Berlin following a meeting of the six founding member states of the EU yesterday, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the UK not to play a “cat and mouse” game following the historic Brexit vote. He said: “Of course a new prime minister must be appointed, that will probably require a few days but this is quite urgent. He added: "It's in Britain's interest and in the interest of Europeans not to have a period of uncertainty that would have financial consequences, and that could have economic and political consequences.”

Of course a new prime minister must be appointed, that will probably require a few days but this is quite urgent. French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was essential to preserve the "project of freedom and stability" that the six founding EU members - Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg - had forged. He said: "It is completely clear that we now have a situation that allows for neither hysteria nor paralysis." Mr Steinmeier called on the EU to redouble efforts to deal with the bloc’s mounting crises. He added: "We must not resort to hectic activity and act as if all the answers are ready. “But after the British decision we mustn't lapse into depression and inactivity.” Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders said Europe could not accept a political vacuum. He said: "This will not be business as usual.” In a joint statement the countries said: “We now expect the UK government to provide clarity and give effect to this decision as soon as possible.”