Brexit was one of the three main issues on the agenda when the EU heads of state and government met in Brussels for a European Council summit.

"Time is of the essence. We know that, but the solution has still not been found," said the Chancellor on Thursday at the end of the European Council meeting. "Where there is a will, there should also be a way, and generally there is a way," said Angela Merkel optimistically. An agreement had been reached, she reported, to meet again once sufficient progress has been made in the negotiations. "At the moment we cannot say when a meeting of this sort can take place."

The negotiations on a withdrawal agreement are at a critical phase. Time is of the essence. The United Kingdom will automatically cease to be a member of the EU on 29 March 2019 in line with the provisions of the Treaty on European Union.

The question of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland remains crucially important for any agreement. Germany, like the EU-27 as a whole, has a strong interest in avoiding a hard border with physical infrastructure in Ireland.

By 29 March 2019 a withdrawal agreement must be ratified by the UK and by the EU side. Otherwise there will be a "cliff-edge" Brexit. This would not be in the best interests of Europe or the UK. "It is well known that the most difficult part of negotiations is the last part, and here it is the details that are critical," said Chancellor Angela Merkel in a government statement to the German Bundestag on 17 October.

Migration - stepping up partnership with Africa

On Thursday the EU heads of state and government dealt with migration and internal security.

Migration is an issue that calls for European solutions, including:

• Enhanced protection of the external borders
• Stepping up cooperation with third states
• Preventing secondary migration - including moves to tackle the root causes of displacement and irregular migration.

Participants agreed to step up relations with the states of North Africa. Angela Merkel announced that a meeting would be held in February between the European Union and the Arab League. Egypt will host the meeting, she said.

Joint action against cyber attacks

Looking ahead to the European elections to be held in May 2019, the heads of state and government discussed the problem of potential cyber attacks. One day earlier, in her government statement in the German Bundestag, the Chancellor also mentioned this issue. She said the main aim is to ensure protection against disinformation campaigns. Internet crime is also to be more effectively combated, as is terrorist material which can be disseminated online across borders.

Finance and the common currency

Mário Centeno, Eurogroup President, reported on the status of negotiations on deepening Economic and Monetary Union with a view to the Euro summit in December. "All sides are determined to have a package on the table by then that describes the future banking union and says something about the path leading to the protection of bank deposits," stressed the Chancellor.

In view of certain risks and trade tensions, this is the right time to further develop and stabilise the euro zone, declared Angela Merkel.