German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced hope Wednesday for a negotiated agreement within "30 days" for Britain to leave the EU while avoiding the Irish border backstop rejected by London.
The mechanism is meant for the period in which the other 27 EU members and London define their future relationship.
"But maybe we can do it in the next 30 days, why not?" said Merkel at a Berlin joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging all sides to "make efforts to do so".