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TEHRAN, June 29 - The European Union warned Friday that Britain was running out of time to get a deal on Brexit, as leaders agreed to step up preparations for the possibility that talks collapse.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Meeting without Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of a Brussels summit, the other 27 EU leaders requested "further clarity" from her divided government on what it wants.
Britain is hoping to agree a withdrawal deal and the outline terms of a future trading and security partnership by October, ahead of Brexit in March 2019.
Chief negotiator Michel Barnier said progress had been made but there remained "serious divergence" on the question of how to avoid checks on the Irish border after Brexit.
He said he hoped a forthcoming policy paper from London would "contain workable and realistic proposals" for the negotiations.
"But let me mention once again that time is very short. We want a deal and are working for a deal, but time is short," he said.
He invited British negotiators back to Brussels next Monday.
As May left the summit in the early hours, after all-night talks on migration, she confirmed she wanted the talks to step up a gear.
"We are ready to intensify and accelerate the pace of negotiations, I want to see that from the European Commission and the European Union as well," she said.
The summit was originally viewed as a crucial point in the Brexit process, but it was sidelined due to the lack of progress and an EU row over how to deal with irregular migration.
Source: AFP
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