Jean-Claude Juncker admits Brexit talks cannot begin in months as there is 'no deadline' for Britain to invoke Article 50

ean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, conceded on Monday that Britain will require “months of preparation” before Brexit negotiations can begin.

In a softening of his earlier demand for Britain to open formal talks within days or weeks, the EU chief acknowledged that there is no deadline as only Britain can invoke Article 50, triggering immediate exit negotiations.

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Mr Juncker, who reiterated that Britain would lose unrestricted access to the EU single market if it did not accept free movement of workers, said he would have preferred Brexit talks to open soon.

“But this is not the case. The British government needs several months to fine-tune its position,” he told France 2 television after talks with President Hollande in Paris.

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Mr Juncker had insisted last month that “we haven’t got months to meditate, we must act”. He apparently changed his view after a meeting with Theresa May earlier this month.

Mr Juncker, who has repeatedly called for “more Europe” to remedy the continent’s mounting crises, has been criticised as a symbol of the kind of federalism British voters rejected and the Czech foreign minister has urged him to resign.

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Mr Juncker criticised the British government for what he said was its failure to prepare for a referendum vote in favour of leaving the EU.

“I would have wanted the United Kingdom to present its letter of resignation, so to speak, as soon as possible, as I would have thought that the British, especially those who wanted to leave the European Union, would have prepared for this possibility,” he said.

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Asked about Boris Johnson's statement during the referendum campaign comparing the EU's aim of unifying Europe with Hitler’s vision for the continent, Mr Juncker said he was looking forward to meeting the new foreign secretary.

"He may notice then that the difference between Hitler and me is more than a matter of nuance,” Mr Juncker said.

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He added that Turkey is no position to join the EU any time soon. He said all negotiations for it to join the EU will stop if it goes ahead with a proposal to reintroduce the death penalty following a failed military coup.

His comment prompted a swift rebuke from the Turkish foreign minister, who said he should not threaten or look down on Turkey.