A British exit from the EU would create an "enormous shock" to the bloc that would be "very difficult to manage", a senior official at the European Central Bank has said.
Benoit Coeure, a member of the ECB's six-member executive board, made the comment at a roundtable discussion in Athens.
He added: "We are in effort to bring capital markets together, we don't need that kind of shock."
Mr Coeure's comments will help mend UK-EU relations following David Cameron's failed attempt to block Brussels politician Jean-Claude Juncker from becoming head of the European Commission.
They follow the disclosure of comments by Mr Juncker on Tuesday night that he would not oppose attempts to repatriate powers from Brussels to Westminster. In a leaked recording of a meeting with Brussels MEPs, Mr Juncker said that he does “not want the EU without Britain”.
He said: “I would like Britain to stay as an active constructive member of the European Union. If Britain puts forward a proposal it will be taken under consideration.
“I am not in principle saying that no kind of repatriation can take place. If Westminster wants to recover competences, OK. If the others agree, it shall be done be done.”
The Prime Minister warned last month that keeping Britain in the EU had “got harder” because of Mr Juncker.
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