The EU has stepped up planning for a no-deal Brexit as time runs out for stalled negotiations that could see the UK crash out of the bloc without an agreement.

There have been no signs of progress in Brussels since the meeting of the European Council a fortnight ago, when the EU’s 27 leaders scrapped plans for a November summit to finalise a deal, stating that not enough progress had been made.

With the original October deadline for a deal now officially in the past, officials behind the scenes still remain hopeful that a withdrawal agreement can be struck – though there are few clues to how or when.

Speaking at lunchtime on Wednesday a spokesperson for the European Commission told reporters: “I’m not currently in a position to confirm when the next meeting of the negotiators will take place.”

A committee of EU ambassadors, which organises behind-the-scenes heavy lifting, met in Brussels on Wednesday and agreed to organise a series of seminars to work out details of the EU’s response to a no-deal.

The sessions will cover planning for issues such as what would happen to flights between the UK and EU, the protection of citizens’ rights, how border controls would operate, and whether the Eurostar and freight trains could still use the Channel tunnel.

Speaking at the Commission’s headquarters in the Berlaymont building, the EU spokesperson added: “Contact at technical level continues… the Commission will debrief Coreper this afternoon on the latest state of play this afternoon of negotiations. This is just a routine update of the state of play of negotiations. I’ve got no juicy details to give you I’m afraid.”

A UK government spokesperson said: “We want to get a deal as soon as possible and agreed in the autumn. We will continue to work with the EU to make this happen.”

Talks remain deadlocked on the issue of the Northern Irish backstop, a policy meant to ensure that no hard border appears on the islands of Ireland under any circumstances.

The EU says new checks will be required on the Irish sea because the UK and EU are leaving the customs union, but Theresa May, under pressure from her DUP allies, has said no British prime minister could agree to them – claiming they are a breach of sovereignty.

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleâ€™s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at London’s march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleâ€™s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA

In September the UK looked close to agreeing to regulatory – as opposed to customs – checks on the Irish Sea, but a swift rejection of that idea by the DUP appears to have killed it, at least for now.