Hollande warns of 'consequences' of Brexit on migration at Franco-British summit

French President Francois Hollande (R) shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron after a joint news conference during a Franco-British summit in Amiens, northern France, March 3, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS -- French President Francois Hollande on Thursday warned of "consequences" for Britain in dealing with the migration crisis if the latter left the European Union (EU).

"France does not intend to put pressure on the British people to dictate their choice," Hollande said.

However, "there will be consequences in a lot of ways: for the single market, on financial markets, there will be consequences for the economic development between our countries," he added.

"I don't want to scare you, but to tell the truth, there will be consequences including for people. It won't call into question the historic, friendly relations between France and the United Kingdom. But it will have consequences including in terms of dealing with migration," he said.

At a joint press conference with Hollande, Cameron noted that the United Kingdom was "stronger, safer and in a better position thanks to the EU."

Asked whether the French warnings were part of tactics by the "In" campaigners to win the EU membership referendum, the British Premier said "the best thing to do is to listen to the arguments and to understand some of the risks and some of the uncertainties about leaving the European Union."

At the 34th Franco-British summit on Thursday to commemorate the Battle of the Somme in 1916 in which 600,000 British and French soldiers were killed fighting German forces, Cameron announced 22 million euros ($24.12 million) in aid to help address the migrant crisis in Calais, northern France, where thousands want to cross to Britain via the Eurotunnel.