British business secretary Vince Cable warned today that Europe could be plunged into conflict if the euro was to collapse.
The Liberal Democrat politician said the consequences would be “incalculable” and said there was “no automatic guarantee” that Europe would not disintegrate into conflict.
“I think we need to take stock that if the euro zone were to unravel in a way that destroyed the European project - and there is a risk that could happen - the consequences would be absolutely incalculable,” he said.
“We tend to forget, until we were reminded last week of that Nobel Prize, the European project was constructed in order to rescue Europe from extreme nationalism and conflict...There is no automatic guarantee that won’t return.”
Mr Cable was speaking during an event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival called “Austerity, the euro and us”.
He described the euro as “very valuable” and a currency that had to be maintained - otherwise Britain would suffer.
“We are not in the euro zone so we cannot directly influence it. We will be heard very loudly if it does unravel,” Mr Cable told the audience.
“My sense is that the Germans in particular realise how much is at stake…A series of sensible measures have been taken in recent months. I think deep down there is enough common sense and a sense of survival to prevent this getting out of control. If it does, I’m afraid the consequences for us will be awful.”
PA