Cutting a frustrated figure, the European Union’s Brexit chief insisted that “lots of work has to be done in the next few day”. Brussels sources have claimed that the three non-papers “contain less detail” than previously set out by David Frost, the Prime Minister’s chief negotiator”. An EU official told Express.co.uk: “Despite all of the positive mood music in public, the truth is that there’s been no real progress to speak of.”

Another source said talks between the UK and EU have not been “constructive for a very long time”.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Barnier said: “As President Juncker said this week, very clearly, we are always ready to examine, on an objective basis, any proposals.

“But these proposals of the UK must reach all the objectives of the backstop.”

The Brussels bureaucrat demanded Britain’s plans continue to protect the Northern Ireland peace process, the all-island economy and the EU’s single market.

Mr Barclay pointed towards the hour-long meeting overrunning by 20 minutes as a signal that they were “getting into the detail”.

The Brexit Secretary added: “There is a shared desire reflected in the meeting today to secure a deal. Because we both recognise that the deal is in the interest of both sides.

“No one wants to see a no-deal, it would be disruptive for both sides and that’s why there is a shared sense of purpose to get a deal over the line.

“There is a common purpose both in Dublin, in London and here in Brussels to see a deal over the line.”

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Express.co.uk understands that the so-called “non-papers” drawn up by UK officials contain details on previous discussions on an agri-food standards zone, customs and industrial goods in the context of avoiding checks on the Irish border.

Diplomats and officials were concerned to learn that no detailed plans covering the democratic accountability for the Northern Ireland Assembly in the backstop.

EU capital have expressed frustration over the lack of “scope” for how the Government aims to avoid a hard border.

Theresa May’s defunct withdrawal agreement covers 150 areas of the EU’s single market and customs rules that require checks.

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An EU diplomat said that Mr Johnson’s proposals, which create an all-Ireland food and animal safety and plant health zone, only covers 50 of those regulations.

Brussels expects the Prime Minister to reveal more detailed plans after he delivers his first speech as party leader to the Conservative conference.

Mr Johnson will continue the talks when he meets key EU figures on the fringes of the United Nations general assembly in New York next week.

He will hold talks with Donald Tusk, the European Council’s president, Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, and is expected to France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Angela Merkel.

Mr Varadkar was today handed a bottle of holy water by a priest blessing the refurbished runway at Ireland West Airport in Knock.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told reporters they should not rule out a Brexit deal before October 31 despite no new solutions to the Irish border problem being presented.

He said: “With a few nights of hard work a lot can be done, but it all starts with the will to agree.

“I can only respond to real, specific proposals.”

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