
German Chancellor AngelaMerkelsaid on Thursday she had not set Britain a 30-day deadline to find asolutionfor the so-called Irishbackstop, saying they could alsohavetimeuntilOct.31, when Britain is due to leave the European Union.
"I said that what onecanachieve in three or two yearscanalso be achieved in 30 days. Better said, one must say that onecanalso achieve it byOctober31,"Merkeltold a news conference in the Hague.
Merkelhad suggested onWednesday that Britain and the EU could find asolutionto the sticking point of the Irishbackstopin the next 30 days, a possible signal she was willing to compromise with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.