EU Parliament mulls bloc's post-Brexit future

European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday opened a European parliamentary debate on the UK's future in the EU, saying the 27 remaining member states have committed to unity across the bloc.

"We also agreed that there will be no negotiations of any kind until the UK formally notifies its intention to withdraw from the EU," Tusk said.

"We hope to have the UK as a close partner in the future. But leaders made it clear that access to the single market means acceptance of all four freedoms, including the freedom of movement. We will not sell off our freedoms and there will be no single market 'à la carte,'" he added.

On June 23, the UK narrowly voted in favor of a so-called Brexit, which stunned Europe's political landscape and shook financial markets across the globe, prompting worries of similar referendums in member states. Hungary is to hold a vote on October 2.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told MEPs that one of the key issues with the bloc's institutions is the lack of proper implementation of decisions.

"We must turn the European Union into a union of Europeans. In the future, we should better implement the decisions we take. We cannot continue as before, but I refuse to revise everything," Juncker said.

"Now is not the time for deep institutional reforms … now is not the time to revise treaties," he added.

'Leaving the boat'

The head of the EU's executive body also railed on the "Leave" camps' leaders, describing them as "retro-nationalists."

"Those who contributed to the situation in the UK have not resigned; Johnson, Farage and others," Juncker said.

"I don't understand why the Brexit camp needs months. I thought that Brexiters would have a plan. But instead of having a plan, they are leaving the boat," Juncker added.

'However painful'

Following the announcement of the referendum's results, the European Parliament voted in a favor of a resolution urging the "immediate activation of Article 50," which would formally trigger a two-year exit process.

"We now expect the United Kingdom government 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 resolution stated.

However, the European Commission does not expect London to formally apply to leave the bloc until September 2017, German newspaper "Handelsblatt" reported, citing sources at the EU's executive body.

"If a British politician triggers Article 50, they will do so after the elections in France and Germany," one source told "WirtshaftsWoche," a sister publication of "Handelsblatt."