Stay with us, EU president asks Britons
European Council President Donald Tusk has directly pleaded with Britons to vote against Brexit just three days before the UK holds a referendum.
“I would like to appeal to the British citizens, on behalf, I know that for a fact, of almost all Europeans and European leaders: Stay with us,” Tusk said in remarks posted on the European Council website on Monday.
“Without you, not only Europe, but the whole Western community will become weaker. Together, we will be able to cope with increasingly difficult challenges of the future.”
The British people are set to decide their country’s future in the EU through a referendum on Thursday.
The majority of recent opinion polls suggest that the Remain camp is recovering its lead over the Leave.
According to Tusk, there would be economic costs associated with Brexit, but the European Union is ready to welcome the result of the referendum.
“In no way are we downplaying the economic costs that would accompany Brexit ... I have no doubt, however, that we are already prepared for the day after the referendum.”
He also admitted that the EU may need to be reformed irrespective of Thursday’s result due to growing Euroscepticism across the continent.
“We would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum, he said. “There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the union coming from all of Europe, not only from the UK.”
Two opinion polls in the wake of the death of Labour MP Jo Cox, who was an outspoken "In" campaigner, have hinted at a boost to the “Remain” campaign, despite the Leave’s lead in recent weeks.
According to the YouGov poll for the Sunday Times newspaper, anti-Brexit support had gained a narrow 44-43 percent lead, while the Daily Mail reported a 3-point lead for the "Remain" campaign.
On the spectrum, Britons who favor withdrawal believe that outside the bloc, the UK would be better off conducting its own trade negotiations, better able to control immigration and free from what they call the excessive EU regulations and bureaucracy.
Over 300 Arab figures urge British FM apology over Gaza genocide denial
Thousands rally in London against far-right racism
'Unprecedented criminalization' of pro-Palestine activists in UK raises alarm
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iranian satellites launched into space as private sector debuts in space industry
VIDEO | Iran, Azerbaijan conduct joint maritime rescue operations
VIDEO | Yemen’s Red Sea divide: Naval forces block Israeli-linked ships in strategic ‘parting of the water’
VIDEO | Southern Gaza: Israel’s facade for famine and suffering
VIDEO | IOF hampering humanitarian aid
VIDEO | Sharmahd: Justice Done
Iran repeatedly warned Israel not to test its will: FM
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
