Berlin, June 20 (CTK correspondent) – The impact of Britain’s departure from the EU on the Czech economy would be worth tenths of percent of GDP, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s chief adviser Vladimir Spidla, who has arrived in Berlin within the Czech-German strategic dialogue, told CTK yesterday.
He said the overall impact of Brexit, on which the Britons will vote in a referendum on Thursday, is difficult to guess. However, the decision may also influence the operation of NATO, Spidla said.
“Anything may happen, including an increase in nationalism…It is difficult to imagine what [the possible departure] would mean for NATO, it is difficult to imagine how it would influence Great Britain itself,” Spidla said.
He said that Britain has military bases in Scotland that might demand independence from Britain in case of Brexit according to observers.
Spidla said that various kind of analyses show that Brexit would have an important, but not fundamental impact on the Czech economy.
He said that even if Britain left the EU, the Czech Republic should strive for Britain being maximally integrated in the EU.
“A new arrangement will have to be formulated. Generally, I believe that it would be correct if Britain were as close (to the EU) as possible in any situation,” Spidla said.
