Theresa May has refused an invitation to address a public session of the European Parliament, prompting suggestions that she is unnecessarily making enemies during the Brexit process.

Brussels sources say the Prime Minister was only willing to speak to MEPs behind closed doors after parliament president Antonio Tajani invited her to present her Brexit position to the elected European representatives.

Margaret Thatcher famously faced the European Parliament in 1986 to argue for reforms of the then European Community’s Commons Agricultural Policy. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have also addressed the chamber; David Cameron agreed to do so but suspended his speech and resigned before it could be re-scheduled.

A Downing Street spokesperson did not deny that Ms May had declined to address a plenary session of the EU-wide elected body.

“The Prime Minister has confirmed to President Tajani that she would be happy to address the conference of presidents. A date will now be arranged with his team,” the spokesperson said.

Criticising the decision, Elmar Brok MEP, a German member of the European parliament’s Brexit steering committee, told the Guardian newspaper: “The European parliament remains ready to offer flexible solutions. Why make enemies? It’s ridiculous.”

The PM, notorious for her dislike of unscripted media appearance, may be wary of appearing in public in the Parliament because all proceedings are broadcast live on television. When her predecessor Margaret Thatcher appeared before the body in 1986 she was interrupted by a protester and Ms May has no shortage of enemies on the benches in Brussels who might be willing to cause a scene.

The background to Brexit negotiations appear sto have become increasingly bad-tempered after the stand-still during the latest third round of talks last week.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

The European Commission today released meeting minutes from July in which Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called into question Brexit Secretary David Davis’s suitability to lead the British negotiating team.