Negotiations between the U.K. and the European Union are on course to end without a trade deal amid fears on both sides that their disagreements are too wide to bridge, officials familiar with the talks said.
Wednesday night’s dinner between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, left their teams believing it may be impossible to find a compromise before time runs out.
Officials on both sides said that while the meeting was cordial, there was no breakthrough and, barring a dramatic last-minute intervention, the more likely outcome now is a no-deal split when the Brexit transition period ends in three weeks’ time.
Negotiators are resuming their work on Thursday in Brussels, searching for a way to break the deadlock before Sunday, when the leaders are due to take a firm decision on whether to call time on the talks.
Natuurlijk is het nog heel goed mogelijk dat het toch goed gaat komen, maar het begint nu toch wel krap te worden.