Mr Juncker told MEPs in the Belgian capital: “I want, we want, the Commission wants a fair deal with Britain and we are working in that direction”.
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But Mr Juncker’s aides have tried to clarify his comments, claiming he said the United Kingdom “does” need the EU.
EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker has appeared to announce that Britain does not need the European Union – although whether he actually said that is up for debate.
“Personally I don’t think Britain needs European Union”.
Nigel Farage seized on the disputed remarks, saying he would buy Mr Juncker champagne for his “spot on” comments.
“Others may have a different feeling on that; they will have the same feeling if ever Britain would leave the European Union but that’s not the assumption under which I am working”. “And so we have to dance and our British friends have to dance”.
A spokesman for Vote Leave said: “In the last two days both the chairmen of Lloyds and JCB have said the United Kingdom could thrive outside the EU”.
He added that he cannot give details on the technical negotiations, but said: “I can’t say that huge progress has been achieved, can’t say nothing has been achieved. It is encouraging to see that Jean-Claude Juncker also agrees”.
Earlier in his statement Juncker suggested in a colorful style that the British need to play a more active role in the negotiation on reforms. For what it’s worth, it sounds more like “do” than “don’t”, but it is complicated by paralinguistic features, including his tone and the way he stands as he says it, which make him look as though he’s offering an aside that contradicts his previous assertion that the European Union needs the UK.
Prime Minister David Cameron has been attempting to negotiate European reform with EU officials ahead of the referendum.
Mr Juncker meets Mr Cameron in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the renegotiation.
“That’s going to take sustained engagement and sustained work and that’s what we’ve been doing and will continue to do”.
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European Union officials and diplomats have voiced impatience that, since Cameron confirmed a referendum on European Union membership after his re-election in May, London has not set out a precise set of proposals for legislation.
