Brussels has an incentive to get a Brexit deal done with the UK as it prepares for a "mission of federalist integration" under the new European Commission president, Boris Johnson says.
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The Tory leadership hopeful said he was looking forward to working with Ursula von der Leyen, who has been nominated by the leaders of the bloc's member states to become the president.
He said the activities of the 29 Brexit Party MEPs, who turned their backs during the EU anthem Ode To Joy on the opening day of the new European Parliament session, showed the "radical change" in Strasbourg and underlined the need to "get this thing over the line".
The former foreign secretary played down the prospect of the UK Parliament blocking a no-deal Brexit if he was unable to secure the "great, great deal" he was expecting from Brussels.
Speaking during a campaign event in Berkshire, Johnson said: "I have met Ursula, the new commission president, a couple of times and I very much look forward to working with her if I am lucky enough to get elected, but I have no doubt that all our European friends and partners now have a powerful incentive to get this thing over the line.
"They have got a radical change in the complexion of the European Parliament, 29 Brexit MEPs not exactly showing a great fervour for the mission of federalist integration that Ursula supports.
"It is time that the UK came out, I think they understand that, I think we are going to get a great, great deal, and we will work very, very hard with all of them."
German defence minister von der Leyen will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president if her appointment is approved by MEPs.
In Westminster, Johnson has not ruled out suspending Parliament to prevent MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit, although he has insisted that is highly unlikely.
He said Tory MPs would back Brexit to avoid "political extinction" for the party.
"I don't think that Parliament is going to want to stop Brexit," he said.
"Don't forget we are staring down the barrel now of political extinction, the Conservative Party, it is a very difficult situation unless we get this thing over the line.
"What I want is a sensible Brexit that is supported by both sides of the Channel, but we have got to come out by October 31 and get it done, get it done by then at the latest."
Australian Associated Press
