British Prime Minister David Cameron has come in for sharp criticism from leading European politicians who warned him that his country will be losing more than the rest of the EU if it finally leaves the bloc after a referendum.

“Britain enjoyed the most exemptions to the EU regulations among all member nations during its 40 years of membership in the EU. It has participated in all treaties and tried to get the maximum concessions in all and still they are not enough. A prime minister who demands fairness from Europe should also behave fairly towards Europe,” Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament said in a TV interview.

Schulz said, EU members such as Germany, France and Britain are strong because the European internal market and the political weight of the EU in the world make them powerful as a community.

In the long term, one country alone will not be in a position to compete or cooperate with China, India or other emerging markets, he said.

“Therefore, a possible exit of Britain from the EU after a referendum will be more damaging to the country itself than for the rest of the EU,” he said in the interview.

“There is a general consensus in Europe that Cameron’s speech is addressed to the right wing of the conservative group than to the European public. We need more effectiveness in Europe, we need more democratic legitimacy. However, reforms in these areas always failed because of Britain’s opposition,” Schulz said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she personally hopes that Britain remains an important part and active member of the EU.

“We must always talk about the interests of individual nations,” she said.

“When it is about pressing ahead of individual interests, then every member-nation has its own interests means that one has to always find fair compromises and in this framework we are prepared to talk about Britain’s desires, but one always has to keep in mind that other nations have other interests and always we have to find a fair compromise,” Merkel said adding, “Therefore, we will talk very intensively with Britain.”

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Germany wants Britain to remain in the EU and work together to bring forward economic and monetary union.

“Chancellor Merkel said she is prepared to discuss Britain’s demands. But one always has to keep in mind that other nations have other demands and always we have to find a fair compromise,” Westerwelle said.

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