Merkel hopes Britain will vote to stay in EU

PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed Friday, June 10 she hopes Britain will vote to remain in the European Union in a June 23 referendum that her finance minister labeled a "wake-up call," the Associated Press reports.

"From my point of view, Great Britain remaining in the European Union is the best and most desirable thing for us all," Merkel said in a speech to a group representing family-owned businesses.

She added that "we have very close cooperation on many questions with Great Britain, and would of course like to continue this within the framework of the European Union," AP says.

Germany has the biggest economy in the 28-nation bloc, and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told Der Spiegel magazine that a British exit, known as a Brexit, would be bad for both Britain and the EU.

"It would be a miracle if a withdrawal of Britain would come without economic disadvantages," he said, adding that he and other EU officials are "preparing for all possible scenarios in order to minimize the danger."

Schaeuble said if Britain leaves, the possibility of other countries following its lead "cannot be ruled out."

"How would the Netherlands react, for example, which is traditionally very strongly linked with Great Britain?" he asked.

On the other hand, he said, "Europe will also function without Britain, if necessary."

Even if Britain's voters choose to remain in the European Union, the referendum itself shows a dissatisfaction that EU leaders can't ignore, he said in remarks to Der Spiegel for a special Brexit issue titled "Please don't go! Why Germany needs the British."