German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed on Friday she hoped that Britain would vote to remain in the European Union in a June 23 referendum that her finance minister labelled a “wakeup call.”
Britain and Germany have traditionally been allies in the EU on matters such as free trade.
“From my point of view, Great Britain remaining in the European Union is the best and most desirable thing for us all,” Ms. 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.”
Schäuble all preparedGermany has the biggest economy in the 28-nation bloc, and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble told Der Spiegel magazine that a British exit, known as Brexit, would 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.”
Mr. Schäuble said if it comes to a British exit, that the possibility of other countries following Britain’s lead “cannot be ruled out.” “How would the Netherlands react, for example, which is traditionally very strongly linked with Great Britain?” he asked.
Even if Britain’s voters choose to remain in the European Union, the referendum itself shows a dissatisfaction that EU leaders can’t ignore, the Finance Minister added in his remarks.
