Brussels’ most senior official has said he hopes Britain can be persuaded to rejoin the European Union after Brexit.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said: “I don’t like Brexit because I would like to be in the same boat as the British.

“The day will come when the British will re-enter the boat, I hope.”

The comments came at a press conference in Brussels after a summit of EU leaders, the last before Theresa May is expected to trigger Britain’s exit.

Mr Juncker added: “Brexit is not the end of the European Union, nor the end of all our developments, nor the end of our continental ambitions.”

He insisted the prospect of the UK leaving the EU was strengthening the resolve of other member states to carry on their project and said: “The Brexit issue is encouraging the others to continue, unfortunately without the British.”

Ms May was not present for the second day of the talks in Brussels, with the leaders of the other 27 nations considering the future of the bloc after Brexit.

With the Prime Minister expected to trigger Article 50 as early as next week, the meeting was the last chance for the leaders to gather together before the formal withdrawal process begins.

European Council president Donald Tusk stressed the need for “unity” within the EU as it prepares for Brexit in the face of calls for a multi-speed Europe.

Mr Tusk, who was elected to serve a second term on Thursday, said: “It is clear from the debate that the unity of the 27 will be our most precious asset.”

He said “the idea of a multi-speed Europe will be one of the discussions” ahead of a declaration on the future of the EU to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which laid the foundations for the union, later this month.

Acknowledging the differences within the bloc, Mr Tusk said: “Some expect systemic changes that would loosen intra-EU ties and strengthen the role of nations in relation to the community.

“Others, quite the opposite, are looking for new, deeper dimensions of integration, even if they would apply only to some member states.”

Mr Tusk stressed that Brexit was “not our choice” and his main goal was “to keep Europe united as 27 today”.

It comes after the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator said EU citizens in Britain were the victims of “political games” and that their rights must be the first item in exit talks.

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nation’s favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafé The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafé Original at Sainsbury’s has gone up 40p from £2.75 to £3.15 – a 14 per cent rise—since the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (£450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterling’s slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons’ customers £2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the “lighter way to enjoy chocolate”, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto

Guy Verhofstadt called for the fate of those three million EU nationals, and of British ex-pats, to be settled before negotiations on the rumoured £50bn “divorce bill” – long thought to be the key early dispute.