Jean-Claude Juncker warned it will take “a miracle” for EU leaders to agree to post-Brexit trade talks with Britain next month.
His comment came as Theresa May went into private talks with Angela Merkel with a plea for the EU to “reciprocate” the warmth of her recent speech in Florence.
Speaking in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, Mrs May said her speech signalling concessions had been intended to create momentum.
“I set out what I thought was the future deep and special partnership that we can build with the EU,” she said.
“And I look for the speech ... being reciprocated in proposals that the EU will come forward with.”
Earlier, Mrs May offered another olive branch with an “unconditional” commitment to help defend Europe against “Russian aggression” and terrorism.
But EU officials say too little progress has been made so far for trade negotiations to begin.
One source called the latest talks a “clearing of the throats” but not “the finishing line”. Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said there was “definitely a better vibe and a better mood”. But Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said both sides must admit that negotiations “are out of schedule”.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, mocked Mrs May’s decision to choose Florence for her speech last Friday as “surreal” in a speech at the London School of Economics last night.
He joked: “I think she chose Florence because Florentine politics in the 15th century made her feel at home.”
Speaking to UK troops in Estonia, Mrs May said: “Russia’s continued aggression represents a growing danger to our friends here. The United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe’s security.”
The words contrasted with her Article 50 letter that appeared to threaten to reduce military and counter-terror help with the EU unless she won a free trade deal.
British hopes of a breakthrough were buoyed when Mrs Merkel agreed to a bilateral meeting about Brexit on the margins of the Tallinn summit.
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She had previously declined, ruling that Brexit matters were for Michel Barnier, the top EU negotiator. EU officials have growing expectations that Mrs May will make further concessions after the Conservative conference, just ahead of an EU summit on October 19.
These could include spelling out what cash “obligations” she is willing to pay in an exit deal. She is also under pressure to concede that the European Court of Justice will rule on the rights of EU citizens here.
Mrs May is beefing up a Brexit unit at No 10, with 20 civil servants.
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