"If the UK leaves the EU, which I certainly do not wish to happen, it will cause a wave of nationalism and separatism across Europe. The European idea would be weakened and right-wing extremists and nationalists would sooner or later open up this issue both in the Czech Republic and other countries," Sobotka said in a statement published on the Czech government website.
The prime minister stressed that any suggestion of the Czech Republic leaving the EU would be completely pointless, harmful and dangerous.
UK nationals are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership, after UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 other European Union member states reached a deal last week to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.
