17/01/2018 (Agence Europe) – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday 17 January that he hoped the United Kingdom would re-join the EU after it leaves. “Even if the United Kingdom leaves under Article 50 (of the Lisbon Treaty), there is also Article 49 which allows re-accession – which I would like to see”, he said during the European Parliament debate on the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, stating that he was ready to do all he could to facilitate a return. Although he had noted a somewhat annoyed reaction from London to the EU proposal should the United Kingdom decide to take a path other than Brexit, Juncker made it clear that “we are ready to talk about it”. He said that he still feels “the United Kingdom’s departure is a disaster, a defeat for which we must all assume responsibility”. (CG)