ROME -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has drawn laughs at a conference by announcing that he'd speak in French because "slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe."

Juncker was speaking at the European University Institute in Florence's annual "state of the union" conference, which comes amid Brexit negotiations and the upcoming French presidential runoff.

Juncker opened his remarks by saying that he had decided to speak in French.

His reason? "Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe." Drawing applause and laughs he continued: "And then the French will have elections next Sunday and I would like them to understand what I'm saying about Europe and nations."

Juncker and other EU officials have been engaged in a war of words with British leaders this week before Brexit negotiations.