European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker says Brexit “not desired” by British
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has claimed that Britain will not vote to leave the EU.
Juncker said that was confident that a Brexit would not occur, stating that David Cameron's motives in holding a referendum were to make Britain's membership permanent.
Speaking to the German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, he said:
Brexit is not a question which arises, it’s not desired by the British. Cameron wants to dock his country permanently to Europe.
The president is due to have talks with Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande in Berlin, with the subject of Britain's EU member likely to come up follow Cameron's blitz of European nations in a bid to gain support last week.
Juncker said that the British would have to "say what they want themselves" in terms of EU reform, adding Europe "will look at this with all serenity".
He added: "It is for the European Council and the member states to deal with the British wish list."
David Cameron said he was pleased with the start of his discussions with European leaders, but conceded that "it is going to be difficult".