INTRO:
An EU Summit in Brussels has ended without any Brexit breakthrough.
There's now just about five months to go until the UK is scheduled to be out of the bloc.
But huge issues remain, including the UK and the EU still at odds over how to ensure a hard border does not go up in Ireland.
Our Europe Correspondent Kevin Ozebek report from Brussels.
PACKAGE:
IN: UK Prime Minister
OUT: STND OUT
DUR: 2:11
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1018brexit-ko-generic.mp3
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is leaving Brussels with little to bring back to London.
Brexit negotiations are still at a standstill—with the Irish border still being the sticking point.
But since there's little movement in the talks—the EU has put on the table the option of extending a nearly two year transition period set to start once the UK leaves.
That would give the two sides more time to hammer out a trade deal.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May signaled she's open to the idea.
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Theresa May/British Prime Minister
A further idea that has emerged and it is an idea at this stage is to create an option to extend the implementation period for a matter of months and it would only be a matter of months
But that still doesn't solve the issue with the Irish border.
The EU has insisted all along that there has to be a gaurentee that if no trade deal is reached—Northern Ireland will stay in the EU single market .
That would ensure its border with the Republic of Ireland would stay open.
But Downing Street says no way—since that would split Northern Ireland from the UK.
Since both sides aren't budging, the Brexit process will keep dragging on.
Here's the EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michele Barnier.
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Michele Barnier/EU Chief Brexit Negotiator
"Brexit must be orderly for everyone and for all the issues including on the island of Ireland. So we need time, we need much more time."
The stalemate summit comes just as dozens of leaders from across Asia also are arriving in Brussels for a bi-annual Eurasian meeting.
As the EU looks to strengthen trade ties to Asia, is Brexit becoming a worry?
Fraser Cameron with the EU Asia Centre, says no….
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Fraser Cameron/EU Asia Centre Director
"Obviously the whole thing will be a lose lose situation for the EU and the UK but in terms of size of market the EU is the big market the EU is the one going out there and doing the deals already with Japan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand in the pipeline plus Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. So the EU is the big trade actor out there and the Asians know that."
But still the EU will be losing one of its most powerful and prosperous members.
And now, it's less clear than ever when exactly the UK will be completely out of the EU.
I'm Kevin Ozebek in Brussels.