The EU's top official has declared it will take "miracles" for Brexit talks to move on to their next phase by the end of October.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker offered a gloomy verdict on the chances of Brexit negotiations progressing from divorce issues to future trading arrangements within the next month.

The EU has demanded "sufficient progress" be reached on three key withdrawal topics - the financial settlement, EU citizens' rights and Northern Ireland's border - before the UK is allowed to discuss the Prime Minister's wish for a "comprehensive and ambitious" UK-EU trade deal.

Theresa May had hoped her major Brexit intervention in Florence last week would help push negotiations forward, perhaps in time for EU leaders to authorise the start of trade talks at a European Council summit on 19 October.

Image: The EU official cast doubt on Theresa May's hopes of progressing negotiations

But, speaking at an EU digital summit in Estonia on Friday, Mr Juncker said: "By the end of October we will not have sufficient progress.


"At the end of this week I am saying that that there will be no sufficient progress from now until October unless miracles would happen."

Mr Juncker appeared much less optimistic over the advancement of Brexit talks than EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who completed the latest round of discussions on Thursday.

Despite warning it could take "several months" for the key divorce issues to be decided, Mr Barnier hailed a "new dynamic" to negotiations following Mrs May's speech.

At the start of Friday's summit in Estonian capital Tallinn, Mrs May said she was "pleased the negotiations have been making progress".

She also held a bilateral meeting with freshly re-elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the EU gathering, their first since the PM's speech.

Downing Street revealed Mrs May noted the "constructive" response to her intervention, which had been "intended to create momentum".

The German Chancellor was said to have "welcomed" the speech and described "good progress" in negotiations this week.

The two leaders also discussed Mrs May's plan for a two-year implementation period for a Brexit deal.

Despite offering the concession during her address in Italy, a major stumbling point in negotiations remains over whether the European Court of Justice (ECJ) should play a role in guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit.

Mrs May has previously vowed to end the influence of ECJ judges over Britain.

UK committed to Europe's security post-Brexit

Union leaders and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have demanded Government assurances on the rights of EU citizens whether or not a Brexit deal is reached.

Challenged by Sky's Europe Correspondent Mark Stone over their assertion she is playing "human poker", the Prime Minister said: "I value the contribution that EU citizens have made in the UK.

"But I also want to see the rights of citizens of the UK who are living in other EU countries have their rights guaranteed as well.

"The negotiations are about ensuring we can give certainty and reassurance to EU citizens in the UK, and to UK citizens in the other member states.

"That's what the negotiation is about, good progress has been made on that issue."

In full: Brexit press conference

Other EU leaders appeared more positive about the state of Brexit talks than Mr Juncker's assessment.

Asked to respond to the comments, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Sky News: "We'll see. Sometimes miracles happen in politics."

Malta's Joseph Muscat suggested the verdict of EU leaders could be "similar" to the European Commission's, but added: "Miracles happen.

"I wouldn't know really and truly. I think that we should wait and see what has been achieved this week and we should wait for Michel's assessment."

Earlier on Friday, the PM used an address to some of the 800 British troops deployed to the NATO mission in Estonia to reassure EU leaders the UK will remain "unconditionally committed" to Europe's security after Brexit.