EU says it will not campaign in ‘Brexit’ vote

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Commission said on Monday, February 22, it would not take part in the campaign to keep Britain in the EU ahead of an in-out referendum in June.

“The Commission will not campaign, will not take part in the campaign,” spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a news briefing.

“Our role of facilitator between the British government and its 27 partners stops here.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron late Friday struck a reform deal brokered by the Commission at a European Union summit that gave the country “special status” in the 28-nation bloc. (READ: Britain’s Cameron to rally party on EU referendum)

“I don’t see the Commission having a role in a campaign that is for the British people and the British people alone,” Schinas said.

However the Commission, the executive arm of the EU, came out firmly in favour of Greeks backing an EU-IMF bailout in a referendum in July 2015.

“A ‘No’ would mean… that Greece had said no to Europe,” European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker had said ahead of the vote.

Greek voters resoundingly voted against the bailout terms. – Rappler.com