There are seven days to go until the referendum of 23 June on the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the continental leaders, worried about the possible negative consequences of the British decision, step in with outstretched leg on Brexit.
Last in chronological order to have her say was the German Chancellor Angela Merkel who, speaking with her Slovak counterpart Robert Fico, underlined that "anything inherent in the common market and the mutual benefit for Great Britain and all the rest of the Member States would no longer be available to Great Britain”. In other words, the United Kingdom risks losing all the economic benefits deriving from remaining in the EU.
Also against Brexit was the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, who warned the British about the possible consequences of their choice: “I would advise my British colleagues not to do it. If they decide to leave the EU, a period of great uncertainty will begin both within the Union and internationally”.
Then a reassurance for the other European citizens: "I don't think the EU will be in danger of life if Great Britain leaves because the process of close cooperation in Europe continues". However, Juncker could not help but admit that the continental alliance should learn from what has been happening over the last few months, given that "This Euroscepticism is not only present in Great Britain".
Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan also intervened on the issue, according to which Brexit is also an economic risk for everyone, including Italy, which being "integrated into the international system, is exposed to these risks not because there is a particular risk Italy following Brexit, but because it is part of Europe which is the immediately most exposed area”.
