The president of the European Commission has said he is sure a Brexit agreement could be reached in November, if not sooner.

Jean-Claude Juncker told three Austrian newspapers that Brexit without a deal "would not be good for the UK, as it is for the rest of the union".

He added: "I assume that we will reach agreement on the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

"We also need to agree on a political statement that accompanies this withdrawal agreement - we are not that far yet."

He said: "I have reason to think that the rapprochement potential between both sides has increased in recent days, but it can not be foreseen whether we will finish in October.


"If not, we'll do it in November."

His optimism was echoed on Saturday by European Council President Donald Tusk, who said it was possible a deal would be agreed by the end of 2018.

He said: "I have hope close to certainty that we will manage to reach an agreement both on exit and on best possible future relations...

"I hope that it will be possible to avoid major losses on both sides.

"We will try for it in October... and I think there is a chance to have an accord by the end of the year."

Image: Jean-Claude Juncker has spoken optimistically about chances of a Brexit deal

Britain and the EU are trying to agree a divorce deal as well as one for a post-Brexit relationship in time for leaders' summits scheduled for 17-18 October and 17-18 November.

Mr Juncker insisted that the EU's "will is unbroken to reach agreement" with Britain but spoke of his regret that the European Commission had not been involved in the 2016 referendum campaign.

He said that the then-government of David Cameron had asked him "not to interfere".

"If the commission intervened, perhaps the right questions would have entered the debate," he added.

"Now you discover new problems almost daily, on both sides.

"At that time it was already clear to us to what trials and tribulations this pitiful vote of the British would lead."

Prime Minister Theresa May urged the Conservative Party to come together - or risk Brexit not happening at all.

Asked if an exit from Brexit was still possible, Mr Juncker said: "That is in the discretion of the British parliament and the government.

"I do not interfere in inner cabinet debates in the UK.

"There is enough confusion."

Mr Juncker also took a swipe at the British press, claiming "they do not respect the human rights of political actors at all" and adding: "I will not miss it."