Merkel Wants UK to Remain 'Economically Prosperous' Within EU

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Berlin wants the United Kingdom to remain a strong and prosperous member of the European Union, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday.

"We are seeking strong, economically prosperous Great Britain in the European Union," the chancellor said following a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, commenting on the upcoming referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the 28-nation bloc.

On June 23, UK citizens will vote on whether their country should remain part of the European Union. Supporters of the United Kingdom exiting the bloc argue that being part of the bloc has eroded their country's independence to legislate, direct its economy and control its borders. Opponents warn that leaving the European Union could deeply harm the country’s economy.

Earlier in April, the president of the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Clemens Fuest, warned that Germany's economy would suffer the most if British votes against staying in the European Union in the June referendum. According to the researcher, it would fall on Germany to cover the largest part of the UK contribution to the EU budget in the even of Brexit.