The European Union could try to exploit Brexit and impose the euro currency onto the remaining eight countries inside the bloc who do not use the euro, according to a Polish MEP.
Speaking to the Institute of Government yesterday, the Polish MEP Danuta Hübner fears that Brexit could result in pushing more countries towards the eurozone.
This comes amid plans between EU leaders, including Jean-Claude Juncker and Emmanuel Macron, to expand the current eurozone and push integration this year.
The French President has ambitious reform plans for the Brussels bloc, including a a European Monetary Fund and more integrated eurozone economy.
When asked about the “negative consequences” of Brexit, Mrs Hübner said that withdrawal will leave the non-euro EU countries “without a leader”.
The chair of the European Parliament’s influential Constitutional Affairs Committee is in charge of scrutinising the Brexit negotiations and considering whether the Parliament should approve the eventual agreement.
Currently, after Britain leaves, there will be only eight countries left who do not use the euro – including predominantly Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
She said: “With the UK gone much political weight will shift towards the Eurozone members.
“With the UK gone much political weight will shift towards the Eurozone members.That has important ramifications for the development of the EU.
“The group of non-euro countries, the UK played a leading role there. So without the UK, they will be less important.
“It’s important to note this non-euro group was contaminated with a lot of eurosceptism of political elites.”