GETTY Jean-Claude Juncker has claimed Britain won't leave the EU

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In an inflammatory speech, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker signalled Brussels power brokers are still not taking the threat of Britain leaving the EU seriously. Last week, his office described some areas in which Prime Minister David Cameron has demanded EU reform as "highly problematic", dampening the Government's hopes of achieving a significant renegotiation of the UK's ties with Brussels. But the former Luxembourg prime minister last night declared Britain would not leave the 28-member bloc, despite an upcoming referendum on the UK's membership of the EU due before the end of 2017.

Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Mr Juncker said: "There will not be Brexit. "I spent three years of my life to avoid Grexit. I will not spend three years of my life to facilitate Brexit.” Mr Juncker also set up a potential new clash between Brussels officials and Britain, as he announced the Commission is planning to present plans for "common, minimum social rights" across the whole of the EU. This is despite Mr Cameron attempting to extract a four-year ban on EU migrants claiming benefits in the UK as part of his reforms. But, the Commission president did offer some encouragement to the Prime Minister's demands for a 'two-speed' Europe between eurozone nations and those countries outside the single currency.

GETTY David Cameron set out his EU demands last week

There will not be Brexit. Jean-Claude Juncker

Mr Cameron is also trying to exempt Britain from the EU principle of 'ever-closer union'. Mr Juncker said: "One day we should rethink the European architecture with a group of countries that will do things, all things, together and others who will position themselves in an orbit different from the core." The president suggested this could occur if Turkey and Balkan countries become members states in an expanded EU of "33, 34 or 35" nations. Responding to Mr Juncker's claim that British voters will not choose to leave the EU, Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the president had shown ""insufferable arrogance". He added: "The British people will decide for themselves and I'm confident they'll vote for prosperity and freedom."