Austria's Kurz raises possibility of extending Brexit talks

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country has just taken on the EU presidency, today raised the possibility of extending Brexit negotiations in order to prevent Britain leaving without a divorce deal.

Fears are growing that Britain will leave on March 29, 2019, without a withdrawal agreement, mainly due to the difficult issue of how to avoid border checks between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

"I very much hope that we can also resolve the difficult issue with Northern Ireland and the potential border. If it is not possible to find a solution, then I plead for the negotiations to be continued, but that we do not allow a hard border in any case," Kurz told a press conference in Vienna.

"Our goal is that we reach an agreement with the UK. But if that's not possible, we have to avoid a hard Brexit. So our goal is clear, but if not, I think it's good to keep negotiating," Kurz said.

Asked if that meant extending the EU's so-called Article 50 process -- which allows for just two years between a country's notification of withdrawal and the day it leaves -- Kurz said "we will see."