'No single market without freedom of movement', Juncker tells Merkel and May as he slaps down migration deal 

  • Jean-Claude Juncker criticised UK for not being prepared for a 'Leave' vote
  • He confirmed that the EU would not grant Britain access to the single market if it did not accept free movement of workers from within the EU
  • Juncker said there was no deadline since Article 50 of the EU treaty, which specifies the exit procedures, could only be activated by Britain

The President of the EU Commission has confirmed Britain would lose unrestricted access to the single market if it did not accept freedom of movement. 

Jean-Claude Juncker slapped down a migration deal as he criticised Britain for not being better prepared for a 'Leave' vote. 

He said: 'I would have preferred the UK presents us its letter of resignation, so to speak, as soon as possible, as I had thought that the British, especially those who wanted to leave the EU, would have prepared for this possibility.'

He added: 'The British government needs several months to fine-tune its position'.

Jean-Claude Juncker slapped down a migration deal as he criticised the UK for not being better prepared for a 'Leave' vote

Jean-Claude Juncker slapped down a migration deal as he criticised the UK for not being better prepared for a 'Leave' vote

Prime Minister Theresa May told Juncker last week that Britain hoped to hold positive talks with the EU following the result of the June 23 referendum, but 'will not invoke Article 50 until our objectives are clear.' 

Juncker said there was no deadline since Article 50 of the EU treaty, which specifies the exit procedures, could only be activated by Britain.  

He said the EU would not grant tariff-free access to the internal market for UK goods and services if Britain did not accept free movement of workers from within the EU.

'There will be no access to the internal market for those who do not accept the rules - without exception or nuance - that make up the very nature of the internal market system,' Juncker said. 

French President Francois Hollande has also warned Britain would lose free EU market access if the UK stopped free movement of workers from Europe.

Theresa May and Angela Merkel held a joint press conference after their first talks since Britain's new Prime Minister took office and responsibility for ensuring 'Brexit is Brexit'

Theresa May and Angela Merkel held a joint press conference after their first talks since Britain's new Prime Minister took office and responsibility for ensuring 'Brexit is Brexit'

Mrs May's meeting with Angela Merkel last week was more positive with the German Chancellor cutting a more conciliatory tone.  

She said: 'It is up to the British government to define its principles for the EU exit and also to trigger the necessary steps.'

She added how 'it's only then that negotiations for the exit can take place.'

Mrs Merkel said 'nobody wants a long-term stalemate,' but it was reasonable to give Britain time to prepare carefully.

In her first Prime Minister's Questions, Mrs May said the referendum result made clear 'people want control of free movement from the European Union...[but] we must also negotiate the right deal and the best deal on trade in goods and services for the British people.' 

The two leaders shared initial discussions over coffee  after Theresa May was given a red carpet welcome in Berlin

The two leaders shared initial discussions over coffee after Theresa May was given a red carpet welcome in Berlin