EU jitters over Britain ‘leaving’

THE ODDS: BLOC WANTS UK, BUT NOT AT ANY COST

Despite continental fears, observers believe British will reject Cameron’s promised ‘Brexit’ option in referendum.

Governments across Europe are watching Britain’s elections nervously, with the continent sending the message: We want you in the family but not at any price.

From Paris to Palermo and Berlin to Brussels, David Cameron’s promise to hold an EU membership referendum if he is re-elected on May 7 has caused jitters.

Willingness to compromise on Britain’s demands for treaty change goes only so far, especially when it comes to free movement, a key principle of the 28-nation bloc. “I would never sacrifice freedom of movement for them,” Anna Norris Dzugosova, a Slovak, 54, said.

Britain’s election is being particularly closely watched in the EU’s newer eastern nations, from which hundreds of thousands of people have moved to Britain to find work since the bloc’s immigration rules were relaxed a decade ago.

Cameron wants to change the rules governing both migration and the benefits that EU citizens living in Britain are entitled to.

But there is growing scepticism that Britons would actually vote for a so-called “Brexit” if Cameron holds his referendum as planned in 2017.

“We think that even if there is a referendum, the British won’t accept leaving the EU,” said Pawel Machala, 43, a Polish technician. He splits his time between Britain and Jaroslaw, southeast Poland.

There is also scepticism in Germany, Europe’s political and economic powerhouse.

“I don’t think the British will go through with this plan to the end. You mustn’t underestimate Britain’s dependence on continental Europe,” said Ingo Speich, 38, an investment fund manager.

The prospect of a British exit is being taken very seriously in Brussels itself.

However annoying Britain has proved itself recently, there is general recognition that it is a key EU nation.

Britain is the bloc’s second biggest economy, one of its main military powers, a UN Security Council member and nuclear-armed Nato state. – AFP