Britons at greatest risk from 'Brexit', warns Renzi

Saint Petersburg, June 17 (IANS/AKI) 'Brexit' will impact financial markets but it is Britons who risk the most if they vote to leave the European Union in a referendum on June 23, Italy's Premier Matteo Renzi warned on Friday.

"Those who are at greatest risk are the citizens, even if in an initial phase there would be financial turbulence," Renzi told an economic forum in St Petersburg, Russia.

Renzi however played down recent opinion polls suggesting 'Brexit' could prevail in the upcoming referendum in which immigration and the economy are key issues.

"I think the British are most serious-minded than the surveys suggest," he said.

Whatever the outcome of the referendum in Britain, the 60-year-old European Union risks implosion unless it changes, Renzi said.

"Europe needs a new burst of energy and not just to react to events...it needs to re-start or it is finished."

Renzi also said Europe and Russia needed to "become good neighbours again".

The stalemate over sanctions imposed on Moscow after its annexation of Crimea "could be overcome" if the Minsk accords were fully implemented, Renzi stated.--IANS/AKI

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