Ireland's premier on Friday called on London to provide a "credible" plan for the border separating his country from the U.K. once Britain leaves the European Union.
Leo Varadkar, Ireland's taioseach, said there had been "good progress" in relation to all three key post-Brexit issues: citizens' rights, the financial settlement, and the Irish border. He said he "very much hopes that the work that remains to be done can be completed in time."
"On the question of the border, as I've said many times, the best and most obvious solution would be for the U.K. to remain in the Customs Union and Single Market," Varadkar said.
The Irish premier's comments came in a joint press conference with European Council President Donald Tusk after they met in the Irish capital Dublin.
"But as the British government has ruled that option out, it must offer credible, concrete, and workable solutions that guarantee that there will be no hard border whatever the outcome of the negotiations and whatever the future relationship between the EU and the U.K. is," he added.
"The period between now and the European Council in two weeks' time will be crucial," he said.
"But I believe with the right engagement and political will we can reach an agreement on the way ahead," he added.
-'KEY TO UK FUTURE LIES IN DUBLIN'
Expressing full support to Varadkar, Tusk said: "The key to the U.K.'s future lies in Dublin," and the other member states would back whatever Ireland decides.
Tusk told Varadkar that the bloc is "fully behind you and your request that there should be no hard border."
"The Irish request is the EU's request," he said uncompromisingly.
Tusk said: "It is their [U.K.'s] responsibility to propose a credible commitment to do what is necessary to avoid a hard border."
"It is clear that we cannot reach a full agreement on every single detail at this stage especially [now] that the final outcome will be linked to the future relations between the EU as a whole and the U.K.," he added.
Mentioning British Prime Minister Theresa May's request that a final offer is put on the table by Dec. 4, Tusk added that after that: "We can assess whether sufficient progress can be made at the upcoming European Council."
"And we have agreed today that before proposing guidelines on transition and future relations to the leaders, I will consult the taioseach if the U.K. offer is sufficient for the Irish government," he added.
"Let me say very clearly," he began.
"If the U.K. offer is unacceptable for Ireland it will also be unacceptable for the EU."
The EU will decide in mid-December whether there has been sufficient progress in Brexit negotiations to consider moving the talks to a further stage where future relations between the U.K. and the bloc are discussed.
