Irritated EU officials have attacked the British Government for playing "divide and conquer" after ministers have been on a huge "charm offensive" in European capitals.
According to senior politicians in Brussels, all 27 member states support the trading bloc's strategy on the Brexit negotiations, insisting their approach to crack holes in their unified position will fail.
Prime Minister Theresa May and other ministers have embarked on a major "meet and greet" tour during the past two weeks. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and the Chancellor Philip Hammond have also been meeting EU leaders.
The Prime Minister has met Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, this week as the UK attempts to steer the negotiations away from the divorce bill and onto trade. She will address an informal meeting of the EU's 28 heads of state in Tallinn, Estonia, on Friday to host numerous bilateral meetings with individual heads of state.
It is understood the main theme of the debate will be the future direction of the European project and the Brexit discussions will be a minor issue.
The British annoucements are synonymous with the EU's approach
Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited London to meet Mr. Hammond, whilst Mr. Davis met Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelson and the EU Parliament's President, Antonio Tajini.
Mr. Samuelson said the British announcements are synonymous with the EU's approach and he is positive the next round of negotiations will run smoothly.
The Brexit Secretary has also held meetings with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders and Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders before travelling to Brussels to enter the next round of talks.
In a bid to drum up support for Brexit Britain and reaffirm the UK's NATO commitment, the Foreign Secretary has visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The British have produced no solid proposals
Mr. Tusk said there has been insufficient progress so far and the EU's 27 member states are united behind their Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier.
He told journalists that he feels "cautiously optimistic" about Mrs May's suggestions and that the "having your cake and eat it" approach is finally over. He said that is good news.
An EU diplomat told the Evening Standard the British have produced no solid proposals.
Labour-supporting Brexiteer John Mills has said the UK must be prepared to walk away from the Brexit negotiations. The JML Chairman and founder of pro-Brexit Labour group, Labour Leave, said his party needs to quit its obsession with Single Market access. He added that his party needs to be prepared for a "no deal" scenario.
Mr. Mills pleaded with Europhile Labour MPs to quit demanding Single Market access as it could damage the party.
He said it exposes Labour's negotiating position, but he accepted a minimal divorce payment should be made.
The biggest barrier to progress during the Brexit negotiations is the Irish border
Belgian MEP and Chairman of the European Parliament Brexit Steering Group, Phillipe Lamberts, said the biggest barrier to progress during the Brexit negotiations is the Irish border, not the exit fee. He told the BBC's Daily Politics that the UK intending to leave the Single Market and the Customs whilst maintaining an open border with Ireland could cause the whole process to collapse.
The comments emerged after Mr. Varadkar welcomed Mrs May's commitment to no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
He said he had a "very good" meeting with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street this week and added there is more uniting both nations than dividing them.
The Irish Taoiseach said the only way to preserve the soft border between both countries is for the UK to remain in the Single Market and the Customs Union. He said the Prime Minister's Florence speech indicated she is intending to retain an open Irish border.
