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London and Brussels failed to get a much-hoped breakthrough on Brexit after a series of twists and turns that saw their tentative deal derailed over the issue of an Irish border.
Success hinged on a compromise on the volatile question of the U.K.’s frontier with Ireland -- one of its land border with the European Union -- as well as its financial obligation to the bloc and the rights of its citizens.
“It was not possible to reach a complete agreement today,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters after lunch with May and the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
For her part, May said: “We’ve been negotiating hard and a lot of progress has been made and on many of the issues there is a common understanding. On a couple of issues some differences do remain which require further negotiation and consultation. I am also confident that we will conclude this positively.”
The hope was to set the stage for a mid-December summit of EU leaders to conclude that Britain has achieved “sufficient progress” in this first phase of talks. While money held up talks for months until May upped her offer, it was the Irish question that all sides struggled with.
Read more about why Ireland became Brexit’s stubborn puzzle
The almost invisible 300-mile barrier that was part of the peace process in Ireland was only possible because Ireland and the U.K. were both members of the EU and its single market.
Ireland insists on open access while the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 lawmakers prop up May in London, are adamant Northern Ireland will leave the EU on the same terms as the rest of Britain.
In a sudden turn, May interrupted her lunch to consult with DUP leader Arlene Foster -- after which all parties came out to say that it was not to be -- for now.