BRUSSELS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday hinted at the possibility of readmitting Britain as an EU member after it leaves the bloc.
Speaking at a press conference following an informal meeting of 27 EU leaders, Juncker said he hoped Britain would one day "re-enter the boat."
"I do not like Brexit because I would like to be in the same boat as the British. The day will come when the British will re-enter the boat, I hope," he said, along with European Council President Donald Tusk, who was re-elected on Thursday.
British Prime Minister Theresa May aims to fire the starting gun to leave the EU by the end of this month once royal assent is given by Queen Elizabeth.
However, Britain's upper chamber, the unelected House of Lords, defeated May's government for the second time Tuesday in a bill that paves the way for triggering the divorce process.
An amendment to the Article 50 bill designed to give British parliament a "meaningful vote" on the final Brexit deal reached with Brussels was won with 366 votes to 268.
Last week, the Lords backed another amendment in what was seen as a challenge to May's government. That amendment was over the right of European citizens to remain in Britain after Brexit.
Under parliamentary procedures, the bill will return to the elected House of Commons later this month, where Members of Parliament will have the chance to overturn the amendments.
