All Brexit alternatives still possible: PM

Prime Minister Antti Rinne said in Helsinki on Monday that the "situation after Brexit is very open", news agency Xinhua reported quoting local News Agency STT reported.

Addressing a joint press conference with the visiting Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Rinne said that "all options are still possible."

Rinne expressed the view that the talks between the EU and the UK should be continued also after the EU summit this Thursday.

"We cannot reach an agreement in practice before the meeting. We need more time", Rinne said.

Michel, who is set to replace Donald Tusk as the president of the European Council, said that the talks between the British and Irish prime ministers in recent days have created some hope.

Regarding the situation in Turkey and its adjacent areas, both the prime ministers flagged for a bigger role for the European Union in solving the crisis.

Rinne said the situation has become more complicated "now that also troops of the Syrian administration have arrived in the area."

He said this means that "EU countries must, in some way, be more active together" and "act jointly in relation to Turkey."

Michel said the situation regarding Turkey will be discussed in the summit as well, and the EU could take a role in finding a solution.