in limbo #3
英国の国民投票により離脱支持が過半数を占めたことを受けて，EU諸国の代表者たちは，英国にただちにEU離脱の手続きを取るように促しております。例えば，ドイツの外務大臣は，離脱の交渉を可能な限り早く進めたいと述べております。キャメロン首相は8月中に首相を辞任し，次期候補が速やかに交渉を行えるように体制を整えております。
記事の中で気になった表現は"in limbo"です。『Wisdom英和辞典第三版』(三省堂)には「どっちつかずの[忘れられた]状態で」という意味がありました。Oxford Dictionaries.comには"in hand, under way, continuing"と定義されております。ラテン語で「縁，境界」などを意味する"limbus"に由来するようです(Oxford Dictionaries.com）。(Ume)
Brexit referendum: EU ministers press UK for quick exit
The six countries attending the summit in Berlin - Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - first joined forces in the 1950s and still form the core of the EU.
"We say here together, this process should get under way as soon as possible so that we are not left in limbo but rather can concentrate on the future of Europe," Mr Steinmeier said.
His Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders said the continent could not accept a political vacuum, saying "this will not be business as usual".
Meanwhile on negotiations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "It shouldn't take forever, that's right, but I would not fight for a short time frame."
She added that she was seeking a "objective, good" climate in talks on Britain's exit from the EU, and that there was no need to make deterrence a priority.
Mrs Merkel also said there was "no need to be particularly nasty in any way in the negotiations; they must be conducted properly".
