Similar developments happening in Switzerland at the moment. As some of you might know, we narrowly voted for a people's initiative to unilaterally regulate immigration in 2014 and the government is required to put this decision into law by February 2017. It has always been obvious that this would mean an end to our bilateral agreements with the EU, because we would be violating the freedom of movement that is part of these agreements. It is also clear that the EU won't budge an inch on that matter - now, after the Brexit fiasco, less than ever, of course.
The probable outcome of all this is that, in order to meet the February 2017 deadline, our government will implement some bullshit legislation that doesn't change anything to the status quo and, thus, doesn't violate our treaties with the EU. What is interesting, however, is that, although our far right party (the guys responsible for the 2014 anti-immigration initiative) have threatened to respond with another initiative, this time with the aim to dissolve our bilateral treaties with the EU (i.e. do a "Swixit"), even they seem reluctant to really go through with this. Even they seem to come to the realization that this would be hopeless and also mean economic suicide for Switzerland.
In short, this Brexit debacle might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for pro-european politics. As long as the EU doesn't overplay its hand, doesn't exert too much direct pressure on the UK to get on with it, and manages to present itself as the sensible and sane party in that entire mess, Brexit could very well mean the beginning of a gradual retreat of euroscepticism throughout Europe (whether this is going to be a Europe with the UK in or out of it is, of course, up in the air; but that's a completely different point).
