British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday his last EU summit took place in a mood of “sadness and regret” about his country’s decision to leave the European Union in a referendum last week.

“The tone of the meeting was of sadness and regret. Our partners were very much sad that we’ve decided to leave the union,” Cameron, who had campaigned to stay in the bloc, told reporters in Brussels after his talks with the other 27 EU leaders.

In an atmosphere of “universal respect” for the U.K. electorate’s decision, European leaders had understood that “Britain should seek the closest possible relations over trade and security” with the bloc, said Cameron, who will step down to make way for a new Conservative prime minister by October.

The people who’ve been left behind in Britain and the United States are making themselves heard.