The European Union Commissioner for Health Vytenis Andriukaitis told The Malta Independent just after the Brexit results were announced that the EU will continue to grow forward.

“The EU will continue to grow forward and strengthen as a whole. Our values are enshrined in the Lisbon treaty and they are important as ever, and we will send this message to everyone across the EU,” he said.

Commissioner Andriukaitis said that an official Commission statement, painting the Commission's position, will be released later today by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, however did provide his own personal opinions and beliefs.

“I would like to say that all EU policies, (following this Brexit referendum) remain the same. Our agenda remains the same, and the Jean Claude Juncker's 10 priorities remain the same. The Commission has the right to continue on those lines and act on the Commission's working programme. “Jobs, growth,investment as well as integration and strengthening the European Union are today's main message”.

Speaking to this newsroom during an interview, the Commissioner said that the EU must go forward and strengthen its capacities to stimulate quality of life, jobs, the fight against unemployment, to improve the EU's effectiveness, and act in the spirit of solidarity against all the crisis around us.

He said that the Commission debated the UK referendum on a number of occasions and debated all questions relating to the Lisbon treaty

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed by the EU member states on 13 December 2007, and entered into force on 1 December 2009.

“Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty is the only legal framework relating to how to move forward. All procedures are enshrined in article 50”.

Article 50 deals with a member state's withdrawal from the European Union.