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WORLD NEWS 9
Thursday 25 February 2016
EU chief: Brexit would change Europe forever for the worse
RAF CASERT the continent was strug- side. Britain for its military clout, fearful of a departure from
Associated Press gling with more fundamen- “What I am seeing is a glori- its diplomatic prowess and the world’s largest trading
BRUSSELS (AP) — Highlight- tal issues like a massive mi- fied cockfight,” said Verhof- its powerful economy. EU- bloc.
ing the European Union’s gration crisis. stadt, claiming that Britain is countries like the Nether- The pound was hovering
love-hate relationship with EPP Christian Democrat disregarding the common lands and Sweden have at seven-year lows against
Britain, major groups in the leader Manfred Weber European good to focus on also embraced Britain’s the dollar Wednesday as
EU legislature on Wednes- listed some of the top
day urged Britons to vote problems facing the bloc, European Council President Donald Tusk speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in
to remain in the EU but citing everything from the Brussels. Tusk insisted that an “out” vote in the June 23 British referendum on EU membership would
chided their prime minister wars in Syria and Ukraine “change Europe forever. And it will be a change for the worse.”
for hijacking the bloc with to high unemployment in
a local “glorified cockfight” the EU and the bloc’s tense (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
that could fundamentally relations with Vladimir Pu-
undermine its unity. tin’s Russian government. domestic concerns. free-market approach. investors tried to hedge
EU President Donald Tusk “Despite all these difficul- Seen from the continent, it “May I give also an advice: bets ahead of the upcom-
insisted that an “out” vote ties, the welfare benefits has often been thus. After Don’t think that after a ing vote on EU membership
in the June 23 British refer- for migrants and the prob- Britain joined in 1973, Prime ‘no’ you can come back,” The currency fell to $1.3930,
endum on EU membership lems of the City of London Minister Margaret Thatcher Verhofstadt said, despite the lowest level since
would “change Europe were the top priorities” at was soon campaigning to expressing a wish for Brit- March 2009. The pound first
forever. And it will be a an EU summit last week, get “a very large amount ain not to leave in the first began to drop after John-
change for the worse.” Weber said. “Is this the right of our own money back.” place. son announced his “out”
His comments were priority?” Continental nations like British businesses are also stance.q
echoed by many legislators ALDE Liberal leader Guy
from across the 28-nation Verhofstadt had the an-
bloc as they assessed one swer.
of the biggest votes in the “This deal is not about Eu-
58-year-history of the EU. rope, it is a deal to reunite
Tusk oversaw the EU re- the Tory party,” he said.
form deal that British Prime The referendum in Britain
Minister David Cameron is expected to be hard-
brokered with the other fought, especially within
27 EUleaders last weekend, Cameron’s own divided
which defined a new re- Conservative party. The
lationship for Britain in the stakes rose after popular
bloc. With all the challeng- London Mayor Boris John-
es facing the West now, it son, a fellow Conservative
was not the time for Britain and possible future prime
to split away from the bloc, minister, announced last
Tusk declared. weekend that he would
Many legislators criticized join the campaign urg-
Britain for forcing Europe- ing voters to back leaving
ans to focus on what they the EU.
saw as a one-nation, even Cameron is the top politi-
one-party debate while cian promoting the “stay”
