Reuters: Italian PM warns of 'huge risk' that Britain leaves EU

16 July 2013

Italy's prime minister said that there was a "huge risk" that Britain would leave the European Union in the next few years and he urged other countries to work to reduce the prospect of an exit.

"We are convinced that in the European Union countries, we are underestimating the risk of having the UK out of Europe. In my view, it's a huge risk", Enrico Letta said. Italy is due to hold the 28-nation bloc's presidency in the second half of 2014.

In his speech, Letta said moves towards more integration in the eurozone should not threaten the EU's single market or leave countries outside the single currency area less comfortable with their membership of the bigger union. "We will work together to give good reasons for the UK to see its future in a reformed European Union", he said, listing less regulation, a deeper single market and new international trade deals as attractions for Britain.

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