Europe Without Britain 'A Disaster' - Fine Gael MEP

"Europe without Britain would be a disaster for Britain and a disaster for Europe," according to Fine Gael Dublin MEP Brian Hayes.

Mr Hayes made the comments as Scotland prepares to vote in a referendum that is increasingly looking like it could see the country leave the United Kingdom.

"The upcoming Scottish referendum on staying in the UK or becoming independent has immense consequences for a potential in or out referendum on EU membership in Britain as a whole," he said.

"If Scotland votes for independence, the prospect that the rest of the UK will want EU withdrawal must increase. If Scotland votes to stay in the UK, and the rest of Britain votes to leave the EU in a future referendum, despite a large majority in Scotland wanting to stay in the EU, then the issue of Scottish independence becomes a live issue once again."

My Hayes said Ireland needed to "take account of the evolving dynamics of the British state and how we should respond to these changes."

He added: "It is in Ireland’s clear national interest that Britain remains a member of the European Union. Britain is our most important trading partner and Ireland is also a critical export market for Britain. Indeed as David Cameron previously pointed out, Britain exports more to Ireland than it does to all the BRIC countries combined.

"Irrespective of what happens next door, we should always remember this that the ties of kinship, family, business, and culture between these islands are the dominant connections of the British Irish relationship. Whatever happens internally in Britain or with its relationship with Europe, the British Irish relationship must remain strong and the full potential that relationship must be a priority for both governments."

(IT/CD)