A Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the European Union, but also of the entire western political civilization, warned European Council President Donald Tusk in an interview published on Monday.

Ten days ahead of a referendum in Britain on the country's membership of EU, Tusk told German Bild newspaper that it would be dangerous if the British people decide to leave the union.

"Every family knows: Divorce is traumatic for all," Tusk said, "Economically, everyone would lose out in the EU, especially the British themselves. Politically, it would encourage all radical anti-Europeans from the inside of numerous member states."

"As a historian, I'm afraid: the Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the European Union, but also of the entire political civilization of the West," he warned.

According to Tusk, it will take at least seven years for Britain to dissolve current contractual connections and to negotiate new relationships with the EU if it leaves the union. Meanwhile, the process would be "without any guarantee of success".

He added that the EU would survive even if the Britain leaves, "although the price would be high".