Paris, May 20 (IANS) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday threw down the gauntlet ahead of Britains EU referendum, warning the people that deserters will not be welcomed back if Britain leaves the bloc.
Juncker, who earlier this year promised to stay out of the Brexit debate, denied he was issuing a threat.
The EC president, a former prime minister of Luxembourg, did not stipulate how Britains relationship with the EU would change - but simply saying it would be different from today.
Im sure the deserters will not be welcomed with open arms, Juncker told French newspaper Le Monde when asked what would happen if the British people voted for Brexit, RT online reported.
The United Kingdom will have to accept being regarded as a third country, which wont be handled with kid gloves, he said.
If the British leave Europe, people will have to face the consequences - we will have to, just as they will. Its not a threat, but our relations will no longer be what they are today.
Junckers stern warning comes three months after the European Commission pledged to stay out of the Brexit debate.
The Commission will not campaign in the UK and will not be part of the campaign, EC spokesman Margaritis Schinas said in February.
In the event Brits vote to leave the EU, there will be a two-year limit for negotiating the terms on which Britain would leave.
Unless there was unanimous agreement, or an agreement to extend talks, Britain would be excluded from the bloc.
Even if Britain votes to stay in the EU, there would still be difficult negotiations ahead as member states would still have to implement the deal Cameron struck with the EU in February.
Juncker warned that it would not be easy for this to happen.
The European Parliament still needs to agree to parts of the deal brokered by Cameron which ensure Britain has special status in the bloc.
