Tusk begs Brits to vote Remain in Brexit referendum

20-06-2016 (updated: 21-06-2016 )

Donald Tusk [EBS]

European Council President Donald Tusk today (20 June) used a Portugal press conference to launch an impassioned plea to Britons, asking them to vote to stay in the EU in four days’ time.

He warned that Brexit could be “the first step in the disintegration of the EU” and that the EU’s enemies would pop open a bottle of champagne if the UK quits the bloc.

The United Kingdom goes to the polls on Thursday (23 June) for the in/out referendum on its EU membership.

“I would like to appeal to British citizens on behalf – I know for a fact – almost all Europeans and European Leaders,” Tusk said in Lisbon during a visit to Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa.

“Stay with us, we need you. We need you. Not only Europe but also the whole transatlantic western community will become weaker. Together we will be able to cope with increasingly difficult challenges of the future.”

He added, “The biggest fear that this possible negative result can be also encouraging for other Eurosceptics in Europe. It could be the first step in the whole process of disintegration.”

Polls this morning showed a rallying of support for Remain, after earlier polls showed momentum shifting to Leave.

Remain camp gains momentum in first Brexit poll since Jo Cox murder

The pound extended its rally in Asian trade Monday (20 June) as investors swung their bets to Britain voting to stay in the European Union this week and latest polls showed support shifting to the Remain camp after the murder of a pro-EU lawmaker.

Tusk said, “It’s so important to show today to Britons that we are ready to respect any result of the referendum but our intention is to be together […]we need the UK inside and not outside.”

The former Polish prime minister has given increasingly strident warnings over the possibility of Brexit in recent weeks, including claiming that it could lead to the “end of Western civilisation”.

Tusk and Juncker see Brexit as threat to Western civilisation

If British voters choose to leave the European Union on 23 June it could be the beginning of the end for the bloc and for western political civilisation, Council President Donald Tusk said.

But today’s direct plea to the British electorate represents a further stepping up of rhetoric from an EU boss. The institutions have until now been careful not to be seen as campaigning for Remain.

“Why am I so dramatic the last days? Because the biggest threat in fact is what we don’t know about these possible consequences of Brexit, Tusk said, “If we have something massive and unpredictable in politics it means always something very unpredictable and dangerous.”

“The threat is real it is not a theory. I have no doubt our enemies, internal and external, they will open a bottle of champagne if the result of ref is negative for us, if it is for exit.”

Archived: Britain votes to leave the European Union

The United Kingdom on Thursday (23 June) voted to leave the European Union, in a result that is likely to rock the 28-country bloc. Follow EURACTIV’s live feed for all the latest developments, as they happen.

Tusk said Brexit could pose a risk to the economic stability of the Eurozone, but bullishly said the EU would be ready for the day after the referendum.

He stated, “Whatever the result is going to be we must take a long hard look at future of the Union. We would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum.

“There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the Union from all over Europe, not just the UK.”

Last week, Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said that the bloc would survive Brexit, if it happened.

Juncker: Brexit won’t be the death of the EU

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker today (16 July) said that the European Union would survive a Brexit – the UK voting to leave the bloc in the referendum to be held in one week’s time.

Timeline

23 June: Referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Union
28-29 June: EU summit in Brussels

British embassy Brexit party playlist includes Europe's The Final Countdown

EXCLUSIVE / British embassy staff in Brussels are planning a Brexit bash the night of the 23 June referendum. EURACTIV.com has had an exclusive peek at the party playlist, which includes The Final Countdown by Swedish hair metal headbangers Europe.

Languages: Français

Comments

7 responses to “Tusk begs Brits to vote Remain in Brexit referendum”

Jay says:
20/06/2016 at 19:26
Britain, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a nuclear power is, by extension, EU’s power. Without the British the EU would become a lightweight in global foreign affairs. The eastern Baltic governments must be trembling as are the Saxons. Brexit would be a disaster for Germany forcing Berlin to take greater responsibility in the EU, a certain drain of their treasury no doubt. If I were British I would look to the future, arguing forcefully and persuasively that it is safer and wiser to live in a country which is free, independent, self-governing, confident and global.
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Caroline Dunn says:
20/06/2016 at 19:52
Unfortunately absolutely no one in the UK heard this plea.
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ivan burrows says:
20/06/2016 at 22:19
The British people have saved ‘Europe’ from lunatics with a flag & a plan to unite Europe many times before, god willing we will do it again on the 23rd.
Vote Leave.
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- Mike Parr says:
  20/06/2016 at 22:44
  Oh dear, the swivelled eyed are, once again, amongst us. ok kids a short lesson – you may find this surprising – but… wait for it… the French have nukes as well & guess what…. you may find this strange but their nukes as opposed to UK nukes do not have Uncle Sam’s finger on the trigger. Strange – but true – Brit nukes can’t be launched without US approval. The UK – a poodle of the USA – since.. 1941. Tell me Ivan – do you know how to beg nicely – come on – put your hand out – & pretty please – there’s a good boy! – then you will get an Uncle Sam bicuit. & as for Jay – don’t worry, the white coats will be coming soon – snigger.
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  - Jay says:
    21/06/2016 at 02:32
    Whoa Mike, what do think your government does up there in Sellafield, raise sheep? Too big a complex for just waste disposal. White coats? Not a chance! Black Chevrolet Yukons – that’s a different story. Let’s hope there isn’t any cheating at the ballot box and everyone can actually count correctly.
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  - charles_em says:
    21/06/2016 at 13:20
    “Uncle Sam’s finger on the trigger” – always a handy urban myth for anyone to throw around., but simply untrue. If you bothered to read up on the history of the development of the UK deterrent you would see there are no technical, logical or political reasons for it to be less independent than the French one.
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David Barneby says:
21/06/2016 at 04:10
I have to Laugh !!! Brexit may be the best thing that could happen to the EU ; it needs at least a thorough shake up and better still a complete collapse .
Though conservative , I am No supporter of David Cameron whose foreign policies all taken from Washington have been wrong . Cameron’s assertion that the EU needs reform is right ; but the few reforms sought for Britain are not enough . The EU is a socialist organization that aims to create a one nation Europe with equal living standards ; the economy has been ruined in part by the Euro , that makes poorer countries unable to compete with a currency value too high . Without a brisk and flourishing economy , subsidizing poorer countries becomes difficult ; Richer countries like Germany will not support a transfer economy .
My biggest concern is that the EU takes all its foreign policy from Washington ; policies that are ill conceived and completely wrong , Iraq , Afghanistan , Libya , Syria and Ukraine . European countries belong to NATO , so provide US warmongering with European Boot On The Ground . Currently the EU and US are trying to hammer out agreement on TTIP . That needs to be stopped , TTIP will in effect give the US control of Europe’s whole economy . The EU will become totally the puppet , poodle , Lapdog of the US , unable to make a single decision for itself . The US is Using and Abusing the EU as an ally and buffer zone for protection against its assumed enemy Russia .
The US is not You friend under Obama , even less so if Clinton were elected president . Europe needs to stop pandering to the US , gain its own independence .
In my view this can only be achieved by the EU disintegrating . A single federal state will not be achieved and would not work anyway . European countries need to return to independent sovereignty , with their own currencies and economies , that is the only way you can have a strong economically viable Europe . Sanctions against Russia must be dropped !!! In truth Russia is a better friend than the US !!!
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