Czech leaders support British remaining in EU

Regarding the Brexit case, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Thursday the Czech government is convinced the EU will be stronger with Britain's remaining in it.

Czech President Milos Zeman also supports Britain's remaining in the EU.

Sobotka said he believes the concessions made to Britain in the EU reform agreement of February will persuade the Britons to remain in the bloc.

By the agreement, the EU member countries made it clear that they are serious about the problems of any member country and are trying to solve them within the European community.

He said that Britain's influence, including influence on essential economic and political decisions, would markedly drop outside the EU.

To replace current cooperation and return to nationalism would be a mistake now when the West is threatened with terrorism, security instability, uncontrolled migration and climate change, said Sobotka.

He said the extensive integration embracing a majority of Europe is the best safeguard of a long-time peaceful coexistence of the nations on this continent.

Zeman said on Thursday that he would welcome it very much if no Brexit took place, also from the point of the interest of the British themselves.

He said if the British decide to leave the EU, a repeated referendum on Scotland's departure from the United Kingdom would probably follow. Great Britain without Scotland would not be so great. Endit