+ A
A -
AFP
London
British and European leaders insisted Monday they could still reach a Brexit deal despite the latest failed round of divorce talks, but the EU warned it was stepping up"no deal"preparations.
British Prime Minister Theresa May admitted there was still"disagreement"over how to keep open Britain's land border at Northern Ireland with EU member Ireland, but said a deal was"achievable".
"We'll just have to keep negotiating", said German Chancellor Angela Merkel".
She speaking two days before heading to Brussels for a summit of EU leaders that had been billed as a"moment of truth"ahead of Britain's exit from the bloc in March.
EU Brexit pointman Michel Barnier met his British counterpart Dominic Raab in Brussels on Sunday, but they failed to agree to a draft Brexit divorce arrangement as had been hoped.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose country would suffer the biggest economic impact if Britain left without a deal, said an agreement was now more likely in November or December.
May's Northern Irish allies meanwhile warned the impasse meant it was"probably inevitable"Britain would now leave the EU with no deal.
And in Brussels, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the bloc's preparations were being stepped up for a disorderly Brexit."While we are working hard for a deal, our preparedness and contingency work is continuing and intensifying,"Schinas said. Meanwhile, May made a statement to the House of Commons to address what she called"inaccurate speculation"about the Brexit talks.
The Conservative leader, who is facing a political high-wire act in trying to reach a deal that is acceptable to both the EU and MPs at home, said it was time for"cool, calm heads to prevail".
"I continue to believe that a negotiated deal is the best outcome for the UK and for the EU. I continue to believe that such a deal is achievable,"she said.
But the threat she faces was revealed by Sammy Wilson, the Brexit spokesman for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up her government.
He suggested there was no Brexit deal that would command the support of all British MPs, saying a no-deal scenario was"probably inevitable".
