BRUSSELS, Feb 16 : European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday that a British exit from the EU was not an option, saying there was "no plan B" as Prime Minister David Cameron held key talks in Brussels to avert a "Brexit".
Cameron, who wants the EU to carry out controversial reforms before he holds a referendum on Britain's membership, held talks with European Parliament chief Martin Schulz to drum up support for his proposals.
Schulz said there were "concerns to raise" as Cameron arrived, pledging that the parliament would be an "honest partner" in the talks.
The discussions are part of a frenetic merry-go-round of diplomacy ahead of a crucial summit of all 28 EU leaders Thursday and Friday which will be dominated by the 'Brexit' issue.
Juncker, who is also due to meet with Cameron on Tuesday, refused to even entertain the idea of Britain leaving the bloc.
"If I would say now that we have a plan B, this would indicate a kind of willingness of the commission to envisage seriously that Britain could leave the European Union," Juncker said.
"So I am not entering into the details of a plan B, because we don't have a plan B, we have a plan A. Britain will stay in the European Union as a constructive and active member of the Union."
Cameron was due to meet the heads of the two largest groups in parliament to deliver his message that the reforms are in Britain's and the bloc's best interests. ?AFP