Merkel urges swift progress in Brexit talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called for swift progress in talks between the EU and the U.K. to finalize a Brexit deal in November.

Speaking after an informal summit of EU leaders in Austrian city of Salzburg, Merkel said the leaders have discussed the latest developments in the Brexit negotiations with the U.K.

“It was clear today that we need substantial progress by October, so that we could finalize everything in November,” she said.

Merkel underlined the importance of overcoming differences on the issues of security, cooperation in foreign policy and future trade relations between the U.K. and the EU.

“Here, we all agreed that there can be no compromises on the issues of the EU’s Single Market. Michel Barnier would continue negotiations on this basis,” she stressed.

The leaders were briefed by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday, a day after British Prime Minister Theresa May met the leaders from the remaining 27 EU states.