A senior German politician gloated today that the falling pound had succeeded in binding the rest of Europe more tightly together.
Manfred Weber boasted that “economic damage” to Britain and the threat of a new Scottish breakaway referendum had sent support for the EU soaring in other countries.
The Bavarian MEP is one of the most powerful figures in the European Parliament, where he chairs the powerful European People’s Party grouping.
“I have to say, for the rest of the European Union I am extremely positive for the future,” he told BBC Radio 4.
“Because of the developments in Britain, the Pound Sterling, the economic damage for Britain and the debate about the future of Scotland.
“People all over Europe see this. So we have in Germany, in the Netherlands and in France the highest support for the EU since the last 30 years.”
“People see Brussels is not perfect, the EU is not perfect, but people see it is risky to take this Union into question.”
A senior German banker, however, warned that Europe’s capitals would all lose out if they did not protect London as one of the world’s main financial centres.
Hubertus Väth, head of Frankfurt Main Finance, the 40-member group representing Germany’s main financial centre, said: “We in Frankfurt clearly have an interest that London will remain Europe’s foremost financial centre.
“Why? Because London is Europe’s best hope to maintain a leading role in the global financing world.
“So we certainly do not want to weaken the City. We want to keep it strong.
“But it would be wishful thinking to think that any losses could be avoided.”
He believes there are areas in terms of “passporting” and euro clearing which would “almost certainly be relocated”.
