British businesses in Brussels: 'Nobody knows where we are going'

Britain's decision to leave the European Union "adds a new level of uncertainty" for British firms doing business in Belgium, the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium has warned.

British voters opted to leave the EU by 51.9% of the vote in last night's referendum - and the body responsible for representing UK firms in Belgium says it is important that the negotiations on Brexit are done quickly and clearly.

Belgium is the seventh largest export market for the UK and has a sizeable British business community. Thomas Spiller, president of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, said: "A deal needs to be found. As the Chamber we advocate for as short as possible negotiating period and as clear as possible an outcome.

"It's all about clarity. The longer this period of negotiation lasts the less good it is for businesses to invest in the EU. This vote adds a new level of uncertainty."

He added: "Clearly we are opening a new chapter in EU relations. Nobody knows where we are going - but we are going somewhere."

'This could take a very long time'

Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at VUB university in Brussels said the Brexit vote was "not what the European Union needed".

"This is a blow, this is another crisis," he said. "The question is now how is the EU going to react - how are the negotiations going to develop with the UK in the next few weeks, months and maybe years. This could of course take a very long time."

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