Mubasher: The European Union (EU) warned on Wednesday that the UK was on track for a crippling no-deal Brexit, as London’s ideas for solving the sticking point of the Irish border seemed unlikely to help in reaching an agreement ahead of the departure, Reuters reported.

European Commission President Jean-Calude Juncker informed EU lawmakers in Strasbourg that Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Mondauy said the UK still wanted an agreement, but would leave the bloc with or without it on 31 October.

Earlier in the week, Johnson met Junker, the first face-to-face meeting for the UK premier since taking office last July.

“There is very little time left [and] the risk of a no-deal is very real,” Juncker was quoted by Reuters.

The UK crashing out of the EU without a deal would result sharp disruptions to trade, and supplies of medicines, fresh foods and potential public chaos, according to Downing Street’s contingency plans.

After four decades of EU membership, this severe break of economic relations “might be the UK’s choice, but never the choice of the EU,” Juncker said.

The commission’s boss urged the UK to put forward realistic proposals to replace the Irish backstop in the withdrawal agreement, which he described it as a safety net to avoid the risk of a divided Ireland.

“I have asked the prime minister to make, in writing, alternatives,” Juncker said.

EU leaders are set to meet for a make-or-break summit in Brussels on 17 and 18 October, less than two weeks ahead of the 31 October deadline for the UK departure from the bloc.

London is not likely to outline a complete set of detailed proposals in writing on how it want the terms of the existing but stalled withdrawal deal before the end of this month, according to EU and UK sources cited by Reuters.

“If there is to be a deal, it must be prepared to a large extent in advance,” EU diplomat told the news agency, adding that the deal “is too technical to leave to the leaders at the last minute.”

By 12:09 am GMT, the GBP/USD pair dropped by 0.34% to $1.2457, while the EUR/GBP pair rose by 0.17% to GBP 0.8873.