Brexit agreement EU and London seems close

brussels - In Brussels, the tension on an agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom is increasing. According to EU sources, negotiations are conducted all night, if necessary, to reach an agreement on the terms of separation on Friday morning.

An agreement on the London bill, the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland paves the way for negotiations on the trade relationship after the Brexit in 2019. Sufficient progress on these three main issues is a requirement of the 27 government leaders to enter the second phase.

Time is running out because EU leaders are deciding on their two-day summit next week whether they can give the green light.

The whole week a feverish deal is being worked on. A sensitive bump is the border between Ireland and (British) Northern Ireland. The Irish and many Northern Irish do not want it closed again after the Brexit. According to a spokesperson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is in touch by telephone with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May.