June 26, 2016
'Deserters will not be welcomed with open arms': Brussels chief issues stark threat that EU will punish Britain if we vote to leave
- European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker says rest of EU would not 'bend over backwards' to help post-Brexit
- Latest threat about the EU's response to a Leave vote after French finance minister warned we would be 'killed' in trade negotiations
- Comes as Brexit campaign unveils research suggesting five million more migrants could come to UK by 2030
By James Tapsfield,
Political Editor For Mailonline
Published: 07:52 EST, 20 May 2016 | Updated: 13:40 EST, 20 May 2016
Britain will be treated like a 'deserter' by the EU if it votes to leave, the president of the European Commission has said.
Jean-Claude Juncker warned that Germany, France and other states would not 'bend over backwards' to help if the UK abandoned the union.
It is the latest bloodcurdling threat about the consequences of cutting ties with Brussels.
The French finance minister previously sparked fury by insisting the UK would be 'killed' by its former partners in negotiations over a post-Brexit trade deal.
Mr Juncker's intervention comes as Leave campaigners revealed research suggesting that five million more migrants could come to the UK by 2030.
European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the rest of the EU would not 'bend over backwards' to help if Britain votes to leave
Justice Secretary Michael Gove said there was a reasonable danger of the influx happening and it could put 'unsustainable' pressure on the NHS.
The UK will not be 'welcomed with open arms' by the remaining European Union if it votes to 'desert' the 28-nation bloc in the June 23 referendum, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.
Mr Juncker insisted that he was not making a 'threat', but made clear that a Leave vote would damage co-operation between Brussels and London.
Comparing the UK with a pet which does not enjoy its fur being rubbed up the wrong way, he said Britain would not 'have its hair stroked in the right direction' by the rest of Europe if it chose to leave.
Asked by French newspaper Le Monde how Brussels would respond to a Leave vote, Mr Juncker said: 'Deserters will not be welcomed with open arms.
'If the British say no - which I hope they will not - community life will not carry on as before.
'The United Kingdom will have to accept being considered as a third party, which does not have its hair stroked in the right direction.
'If the British leave Europe, it will be necessary for both us and them to draw conclusions. That is not a threat, but our relations will not be the same as today.'
Mr Juncker said that the reforms to Britain's membership secured by David Cameron in a renegotiation in February would be implemented if the UK voted to Remain.
But he appeared to suggest that the reform package - including an emergency brake on migrant benefits, protections for non-eurozone states and an exemption from 'ever closer union' - was not playing a decisive role in the Brexit debate, noting that 'nobody is talking about (it) during the referendum campaign'.
The implementation of the package 'will not be easy', he said. And he warned that, while he was ready to consider moves to recast 'the European idea', this would risk adding to divisions within the EU.
Mr Juncker suggested that the referendum called by David Cameron provided an opportunity for Paris to take a more prominent role in setting Europe's future direction.
France had 'a line to take, a message to deliver, a certain idea of Europe to defend', he said. Paris was 'well placed' to lead Europe on vital issues and would have the Commission's support if it chose to launch a 'big initiative', he said.
A 'coherent message' from Paris could have a significant impact 'in the face of the British narrative', Mr Juncker told Le Monde.
'The United Kingdom will have to accept being considered a third party, who we won't be bending over backwards for.'
