Merkel calls for more understanding among remaining EU states after Brexit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, August 24, 2016.[Photo/VCG]

TALLINN - Member states of the European Union (EU) should not rush into making decisions after Britain leaves the bloc, local media quoted German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying on Wednesday.

Merkel arrived in Tallinn on Wednesday for a two-day visit, as part of a longer trip in preparation for the first EU summit to be held without Britain, the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation (ERR) reported.

At a joint press conference after meeting with the Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, Merkel stressed the fact that, following Brexit, the EU must be given a new direction.

"Member states must be given time to discuss matters, and prior to the summit in Bratislava, the future of Europe must be discussed with all member states", she said.

"This is a period for listening to one another, understanding and learning from one another in order to find and develop a new balance in the 27-member EU," said Merkel.

"If the UK, who made up 15 percent of the EU's GDP, leaves (the EU), this means the departure of an important partner, and from the start we must act collectively and very calmly to build up a new, 27-member EU again."

Speaking about the ongoing refugee crisis, Merkel repeated her earlier standpoint that European states must be united, but first and foremost combat its underlying causes.

"We must combat the root causes of (refugees') flight - human trafficking, crime," said Merkel.