Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit, that he is “deeply worried” that Britain could leave the European Union, following a referendum on this issue, writes The Telegraph. One of the reasons that might cause this would be to assign too much power to European institutions. Blair’s comment comes shortly after the current Prime Minister, David Cameron, said “it would be perfectly honorable” if Britain would hold a referendum for citizens to vote for or against remaining in the EU.
Blair told German journalists that it is clear that the whole crisis in the euro area will lead to a “strong EU political transformation”. “At this point, I am deeply concerned that Britain could decide by referendum to go,” said former Downing Street head.
Tony Blair added that if there will be a transfer of power from national to EU level, the legitimacy of European institutions should be increased. “Britain must play an important role in this process, because there is a need of a balance between European institutions and national states. If it fails here, we would create a political crisis that could reach the magnitude of the crisis in the euro area. People will not accept giving up national state”, said the former Prime Minister.
According to the euro-skeptics, the British economy has suffered because of the European legislation and would be much stronger if it is no longer part of the European Community. On the other hand, those who support Britain’s EU membership believe that if it would leave the group of 27, the influence of the Kingdom of the continent would fall. In addition, the same voices say, the British economy is influenced by the EU anyway, whether part of the EU or not, the Telegraph article also says.
The main context in which British have raised the EU exit scenario was the tax rules, such as the so-called “Robin Hood” tax on financial transactions, which, according to experts, would seriously affect London’s financial centre.
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