"The gaps on level playing field, governance and fisheries remain large," said the diplomat following a closed-door briefing by the bloc's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, to envoys of the 27 EU states to the bloc's hub Brussels.

"Without London taking the necessary decisions quickly, reaching a deal will be all but impossible. Time is running out quickly. There are only a few days left for further negotiations."

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska)