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The chances of sealing an agreement on Britain 's withdrawal from the European Union this month are diminishing, said today Taoiseach Minister Leo Varadkar.
Mr Varadkar's comments come as the EU's Brexit negotiator called on Britain to make decisive choices.
EU sources also told Reuters that the bloc would need a breakthrough on Brexit a week from now if its leaders were to approve any deal with Britain this month. this.
The leaders had already proposed a summit for mid-November to sign an agreement with London.
Negotiators on both sides, however, remain in disagreement over ways to ensure that border controls will not be reinstated at the northern Irish border.
"I think that every day that pbades, the possibility of organizing a special summit in November becomes less likely," said Leo Varadkar to the press after meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila.
"But we have one scheduled for December 13 and 14, so not doing it in November does not mean we can not do it in the first two weeks of December," he said.
"But I think that beyond that, you're in the new year, which would not be a good thing," added Varadkar.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier, who also met with Sipila, said it was impossible to say when the divorce talks would end, adding that there would be no not agree without a solid solution for the Irish border.
"We are not there yet, time is running out, choices have to be made now on the British side," he told reporters. "There are still some important issues to solve."
As part of the withdrawal agreement, Brussels has proposed a "background" scheme that would ensure the opening of the border by keeping Northern Ireland in the union of the European Union and in a large part of the single market.
Britain is complaining that this would create a border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
"Without support, there will be no agreement, it's as simple as that," said Barnier. "It is clear that more work is needed in the Brexit negotiations and we remain committed to reaching an agreement."
Leo Varadkar met with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday and agreed that any support should be temporary. May also told him that there should be a mechanism to stop it.
May also spoke today to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, to discuss next steps.
EU envoys in Brussels will receive an update on Friday and ministers from the 27 EU countries are scheduled to meet on Monday.
"For me, it 's still a goal, more than a mechanism – what are you really trying to achieve," said Leo Varadkar today.
"We hope that the backstop will never need to be used, it's an insurance policy," he said.
Leo Varadkar said he was ready to consider a review clause attached to the backstop, but that could not allow Britain to withdraw unilaterally and leave a hard border.
Leo Varadkar and Michel Barnier were in Helsinki to attend a two-day congress of the European People's Party.
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