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#Brexit: May to return to Brussels on Saturday before European Council

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Following today's (21 November) meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, British Prime Minister Theresa May said that she would be returning on Saturday (24 November) to bring the discussions to a conclusion. The announcement means that negotiations will go down to the wire and that the Council may not be able to reach an agreement on Sunday, writes Catherine Feore.

Outstanding issues include Spanish concerns over Gibraltar - in particular, a right of veto; a wider-spread concern among EU-27 countries over access to fishing in British waters, currently excluded from the Single Customs Territory; and the incorporation of some sort of free movement of goods, as proposed in this summer's Chequers' Plan, for the Political Declaration on the Future Framework.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made it clear that he would not accept an agreement where the situation in Gibraltar would not require the approval of Spain.

At today’s Commission Midday Briefing, Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said that the Commission’s College of Commissioners had received an update from the Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier on negotiations. Dombrovskis said that agreement still needed to be reached on the Political Declaration. Government Sherpas from the EU-27 will meet on Friday (23 November) to discuss progress.

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The Prime Minister gave a short interview to the BBC after tonight's meeting:

Q: Prime Minister, what did you and President Junker achieve this evening?

Prime Minister: We have had a very good meeting this evening. We have made further progress and as a result, we have given sufficient direction to our negotiators. I hope for them to be able to resolve the remaining issues and that work will start immediately. I now plan to return for further meetings, including with President Junker, on Saturday to discuss how we can bring to a conclusion this process and bring it to a conclusion in the interests for all our people.

Q: What are the problems that need to be solved so that Summit can go ahead and all of this can be signed off?

Prime Minister: Well, there were some remaining issues which we have discussed, which I have discussed with Pres Junker this evening. We have been able to give direction to our negotiators on resolving those issues so further progress has been made. And as I say, I will be returning on Saturday for further meetings, including again with President Junker to discuss how we can ensure that we can conclude this process in the way which is in interests in all our people.

Q: Was this the plan though? Wasn’t there meant to be a finalised text available 48 hours ready before the summit was going to happen?

Prime Minister: Well, there are some further issues that need resolution. We have given direction to our negotiators this evening. The work on those issues will now start immediately. I believe we have been able to given sufficient direction for them to be able to resolve those remaining issues.

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