Juncker's cabinet chief shares image of WHITE SMOKE confirming deal DONE
JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker’s head of Cabinet has tweeted a picture of white smoke billowing from a chimney sparking speculation that a Brexit deal has been reached.
Yesterday the Commission said there was "no white smoke" yet in regards to a Brexit deal – but the two sides have been negotiating through the night.
Then early this morning Mr Juncker’s spokesperson Martin Selmayr tweeted a picture of smoke sparking speculation a Brexit deal has been reached.
And now the European Comission President has confirmed "sufficient progress has been made" to move into the second phase of talks.
Recently Brexit talks had hit a roadblock on the issue of the Irish border and it is understood the two sides have been negotiating through the night.
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Northern Ireland’s DUP leader Arlene Foster will also reportedly make a statement later on Friday.
Theresa May and David Davis arrived for crunch talks with the EU chiefs in Brussels earlier this morning.
The Prime Minister’s plane had been on standby as the two sides battled to reach a deal.
Donald Tusk’s office has announced the European Parliament President will make an early morning Brexit statement on today.
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Reports have also emerged that the EU will be willing to concede defeat regarding the role of the European Court Justice (ECJ) after Brexit – which has so far been a major roadblock in negotiations. .
The Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted there was a red line drawn over ECJ rule after Brexit as Brussels’ negotiators pushed for its authority to continue over EU nationals living in the UK.
Now it is said that the bloc’s negotiators will accept a 10 year sunset clause which will end the role of the ECJ in a bid to break a deadlock on Brexit talks, according to diplomatic sources.
Under the new compromise, Britain’s Supreme Court could refer a small number of cases regarding EU citizens for the Luxembourg court to rule on.
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The arrangement will end in 2029 when British judges will have complete authority over UK laws.
However, Mrs May faces a backlash for her part in the compromise with Brexiteers insisting the court’s role must end the day Britain leaves the EU on March 29, 2019.
Veteran Tory Eurosceptic Sir William Cash said told The Sun: “Allowing the ECJ any role whatsoever is a mistake.
“It will spread its tentacles, like ectoplasm, and end up ruling on all manner of things. That’s what it has done ever since 1956.”
Yesterday the EU demanded a draft Brexit deal from Britain by Sunday if there is to be any hope of moving onto transition and trade talks at next week’s EU summit in Brussels.
