Anxious EU appeals to Britons to stay, warns of costs

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, June 16, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Anxious European leaders issued a chorus of calls to Britons on Thursday to stay in the European Union rather than risk years of economic damage, but the prime minister whose country will chair the EU from July said it must prepare for a Brexit.

From German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to the heads of the EU institutions in Brussels and the man who forged the modern EU, Jacques Delors, they said remaining would be better for Britain and Europe - though aware that outside pressure may be counterproductive, all stressed it was for voters to decide.