More EU countries could be pressured to join the euro after Brexit, a senior MEP overseeing negotiations has suggested.

Danuta Hubner, who chairs the European Parliament's influential Constitutional Affairs Committee, warned the bloc's "political centre" will shift significantly when Britain leaves in 2019.

She predicted the departure of a "very important leader" against the single currency will see non-euro nations sidelined.

Currently, only nine of the EU28 do not use the Euro. They are predominantly Eastern European countries, including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

It was introduced when the EU had 15 members - but was resisted by the former soviet states


Ms Hubner said their voices would become "less important" and that the EU's "political weight" would "move towards the euro much more strongly than it has been thus far".

Image: Ms Hubner predicted the EU's 'political weight' would shift

Speaking at an Institute for Government event on Friday, the Polish MEP - whose committee will consider whether the European Parliament should approve a final Brexit deal - said: "For Poland, the UK has always been seen - whatever government - as a special partner.

"Where I think there will be a negative consequence for countries like Poland is that the group of non-euro countries, where the UK has always been playing a leading role because of its economic potential, and even though the legal situation is different because the regulations of the UK is of a different nature to the one the other countries are in.

"But the UK was a very important leader of this group and gave them political strength.

"With the UK leaving the non-euro group it will be less important.

"It is also a group that is contaminated with citizens' euro-scepticism of political elites.

"And I also think that with the UK leaving, generally the political weight and political centre will move towards the euro much more strongly than it has been thus far.

"For Poland it is an important factor, for the good and for the bad."

Image: Britain opted out of joining the euro

Ms Hubner also said it was "too late" for Britain to change its mind and stay in the EU before Article 50 runs out in March 2019.

"I was believing that this can happen but I thought more at the early stage," she said.

"I think we are getting too late for this type of change in the whole thing…"

"(From) businesses, the financial sector, devolved territories or government, I haven't heard this possibility taken seriously.

"But it's of course all up to you. I also would like to see you back in the EU."

And Ms Hubner claimed the Brexit vote had been "largely by accident", suggesting the European Parliament was not afraid to vote down the final deal.

She said: "You can have an accident in an institution like a Parliament all of a sudden because something happens and there is a mood shifting."

MEPs will have to approve the deal between Britain and Brussels struck by chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

They expect to have it agreed by October to leave enough time for the separation to be voted on and formalised in time for March 2019.