Jean-Claude Juncker's remarks on membership of the European Union are "very important in the context of the Scottish referendum debate", the Prime Minister has claimed.

David Cameron's comments came after former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy raised the issue during PMQs, arguing "shouldn't the Scots voters bear those words in mind?"

Pro-Union campaigners were last night accused of twisting the words of the newly-elected president of the European Commission after he said the EU needed to "take a break" from expansion.

Mr Juncker said the EU should consolidate what had already been achieved by the existing 28 member states and that there would be no new members of the EU in the next five years.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Kennedy said: "As the Prime Minister is enjoying a week in which he's making a lot of new best friends.

"When he gets to the Brussels summit, would he give a particularly warm greeting to the man who might yet be his best, certainly his newest President Juncker, who yesterday called for more European reform and warned applicant states who want to join the European Union face a complex, difficult and drawn out period of up to perhaps five years.

"As we don't meet before the Scottish referendum, barring a recall, shouldn't the Scots voters bear those words in mind?"

Mr Cameron responded: "This a remarkable moment, where the right honourable gentleman, Jean Claude Juncker have together said something which I wholeheartedly agree with.

"It is noticeable what he said that there wouldn't be new members joining the European Union in the next five years and I think that is very important in the context of the Scottish referendum debate.

"But I will take him up on one point, he says that we're not going to meet again before the Scottish referendum.

"In terms of my diary I think actually the House of Commons will be meeting in September."

Pro-UK campaigners have seized on the president's remarks, claiming they made it clear that a Yes vote in Scotland's forthcoming independence referendum would also be a vote to leave the EU.

They claimed an independent Scotland would have to get in the queue for EU membership and would not get back in before 2019.

But the BBC last night reported that Mr Juncker's spokeswoman said he was not referring to Scotland in his comments.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the No camp had "wilfully twisted" Mr Juncker's words and demanded an apology.

"This blatant act of dishonesty is a major blow to the credibility of the No campaign," she said.

"In their desperation to talk Scotland down and spread fears and smears, the No camp have wilfully twisted what Jean-Claude Juncker said.

"They said that Mr Juncker was talking about Scotland - and his spokeswoman has confirmed that he was not.

"Their claims now lie in tatters.

"The No campaign are guilty of distorting remarks by the newly-elected president of the European Commission, which is an extremely serious matter.

"They must withdraw their bogus assertions as a matter of urgency and issue a public apology."

The Scottish Government has maintained that the terms of Scotland's EU membership as an independent state would be agreed during the 18-month transition period following the September ballot.

It said Scotland was already part of the EU, and therefore already met all the requirements for membership.