Reform deal between UK, EU ceases to exist: EU top officials

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker addresses a news conference on Britain's referendum result in Brussels, Belgium, June 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

BRUSSELS, June 24 -- As Britain has voted in the historic referendum to leave the European Union(EU), the reform deal reached between the United Kingdom and the EU in February will not take effect and ceases to exist, top officials announced on Friday.

The leaders, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Parliament President Martin Schulz and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose government holds the rotating EU presidency, released a joint statement after a meeting saying they regretted but respected the British decision. They pledged to stay as a union of 27 member states.

"This is an unprecedented situation but we are united in our response," they said, stressing that the Union of 27 Member States will continue.

"The Union is the framework of our common political future," the leaders said, "together we will address our common challenges to generate growth, increase prosperity and ensure a safe and secure environment for our citizens."

They called for the UK "to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be."

"Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty," the leaders warned, suggesting the UK to leave the union in an "orderly way."

"We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union," the statement said.

They added that the deal agreed with British Prime Minister Cameron in February to protect London's financial markets, curb immigration and opt out of closer union will not take effect and ceases to exist, adding that there will be no renegotiation.

Juncker has warned clearly ahead the referendum that "out is out," ruling out further renegotiation of Britain's membership with the EU.

However, the leaders said the UK will remain a member of the EU until the process of exit negotiations is over.

"According to the Treaties which the United Kingdom has ratified, EU law continues to apply to the full to and in the United Kingdom until it is no longer a member," the statement said.

As for the future relationship between the UK and the EU, the leaders said they hope the two to be "close partners."

"Any agreement, which will be concluded with the United Kingdom as a third country, will have to reflect the interests of both sides and be balanced in terms of rights and obligations," they said.

According to the EU laws, in order to leave the union, the UK government will first have to launch a proposal to activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which sets out the procedural requirements for a member state to terminate its membership.

Then a "withdrawal agreement" needs to be negotiated on such things as tariffs on British goods and freedom of movement with the remaining member states.

Tusk has warned that renegotiating the relationship between the UK and the EU could take up to seven years.