<p>Britain&#8217;s landmark decision to leave the European Union last week ;has provoked all sorts of responses. ;Leaders like President Obama and French President Francois Hollande were quick to express both sadness and acceptance, while others worry ;that Britain&rsquo;s decision threatens to undo the entire European Union.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This is a blow to Europe and to the European unification process,&rdquo; laments German Chancellor Angela Merkel.</p>
<p>Billionaire hedge fund legend George Soros, who had made grim predictions about Britain&#8217;s financial future before the referendum, now says the collapse ;of the EU &ldquo;practically irreversible.&rdquo; ;The EU&rsquo;s ongoing economic struggles, combined with the failure to adequately respond to the migrant crisis, have lead to a &ldquo;catastrophic scenario&rdquo; that threatens to send shockwaves across the world, says Soros. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The consequences for the real economy will be comparable only to the financial crisis of 2007-2008&#8230;Tensions among member states have reached a breaking point, not only over refugees, but also as a result of exceptional strains between creditor and debtor countries within the euro zone.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>The pound sunk to 30-year-lows the very day after the Brexit vote. The effects were felt throughout global markets, with numerous stock indices in Europe dropping 10%. The S&;P 500 fell 4.59% while shares of British banks dropped 20%.</p>
<p>The United Kingdom might not survive its controversial decision. Scotland has already threatened to hold an independence referendum so that it can rejoin the EU as a separate entity. ;</p>
<p>Dutch politician Geert Wilders and French politician Marine Le Pen are leading the charge against further integration and demanding their countries hold referendums on EU membership. ;Germany believes that Austria, Finland, and Hungary could also leave.</p>
<p>Berlin ;will have to pay an additional £;2.44 billion to the EU each year now that Britian has left. ;This and other fears have prompted the German government to propose Britain become an &ldquo;associated partner country&rdquo; of the EU.</p>
<p>Britain&#8217;s ;exit negotiations are expected to take up to two years. ;</p>