The EU envoy to Brexit states that it takes "a lot more work" to conclude the agreement

The European Union negotiator on Brexit said that the differences still had to be overcome in negotiations on the UK's departure from the block, the missing time to reach an agreement.

Michel Barnier told the Associated Press Thursday that "we need a lot more work" to reach an agreement.

The main obstacle is the disagreement over the maintenance of goods at the Irish border.

Britain leaves the EU on March 29, but an agreement must be sealed in the coming weeks to allow enough time for parliaments to support it.

Barnier declined to say whether enough progress has been made to convene an EU summit on Brexit this month.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that British Prime Minister Theresa May "has decided, like us, to conclude the agreement and that we will have an agreement".