Negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom resumed again Monday and whilst impatience amongst Brexiteers in Britain over the protracted process is clear, there is increasing frustration in the capitals of Europe as well.

Danish Finance Minister Kristian Jensen hit out at the constant stalling by Brussels over reaching a deal, which has become a feature of the talks to date, remarking that Prime Minister Theresa May’s concessions to the EU made in her Florence speech should have been enough to shift the deadlock.

May Ramps up Preparation for ‘No Deal’ Brexit Amidst Calls for Her Resignation https://t.co/htOeQvXAyB — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 8, 2017

Speaking to The Guardian, Jensen decried the bloc’s refusal to accept the offers Britain has already made and said: “In any political negotiations, there is not enough time, not enough money, not enough this, not enough that. This is part of the game. Because what we are dealing with here is not rocket science. We are not speaking about putting a man on Mars or solving the problem of CO2 emissions.

“We are now on the same page … In my view it is rather important we get into a more close and more speedy process on concluding some of the issues.”

Despite the enthusiasm of the Danish minister to see negotiations speeded along as they entered their fifth round Monday, European leaders apparently still had no appetite for progress – notwithstanding May’s promise of a long transition period and a Brexit ‘divorce bill’ payment, which went down badly with many in the UK.

Hard Brexit by January? Maybe, if the European Union keep dragging their heels… https://t.co/DnSJmmxAAI — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 7, 2017

After May’s remark that “the ball is in their [the EU’s] court” was leaked Sunday night, the EU hit back immediately, paradoxically quipping that whilst Brexit negotiations are not a ball game, the ball nevertheless remains in Britain’s court.

European Commission chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas remarked, “This is not exactly a ball game”, and repeated the Union’s position that because Britain had not given up enough ground on paying a Brexit bill — what he called “step one” — there would be no progress allowed elsewhere.