Britain will not leave the EU even after the referendum result, according to Austria’s finance minister.
Hans Joerg Schelling said he expected Britain to remain a member of the union despite the 52-48% win for Leave.
Mr Schelling also said the EU should learn from the outcome by reforming and focusing on key issues such as the single market, climate change and security.
He told German newspaper Handelsblatt: “Britain will remain a member of the EU in the future.
“In five years, there will still be 28 member states.”
He added that the delay in triggering Article 50 to leave the EU was damaging both Europe and Britain.
Mr Schelling added: “When you look at all of those who want to move to the EU, it’s a wake-up call for Britain not to leave in the end.”
He also said another option for Britain would be not to trigger Article 50 at all and remain part of the EU.
But Alain Juppé, the favourite to win next year's French presidential election, said yesterday: "When you get divorced, you do not get to stay at home. You have to leave the common house”.
All candidates to replace David Cameron as the next Prime Minister have pledged to honour the referendum vote and not invoke a second referendum.
