Assumption EU-side is that if a deal will be reached, Boris Johnson will want it to be when -or just after-negotiating teams meet in London, rather than during a ‘Brussels week’. EU attitude is that bottom line: it wants a deal but not bothered how U.K. gov sells it at home /1

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier today said fundamental differences remain between the two sides on core issues But negotiators are expected to meet face-to-face in London later this week-which, potentially, is when Barnier and the PM could emerge from #covid19 self-isolation/2

Adding to the swirl of rumour and speculation about imminent announcement of a deal : we hear a call is being planned later this week between the PM and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.. /3

Announcement of deal end of week?Or dramatic ‘last ditch push’ in London over weekend?? Or both sides admit so near and yet so far? Or more days of ‘negotiations’ squeezed in while minds are made up on political compromises..? /4

If there’s a deal on table, EU won’t want deadline to be missed bc of technicalities. EU law would allow provisional application of the deal from 1 Jan IF the 27 EU leaders sign off on it before end of year BUT leaders want to read through deal first in their mother-tongue /5

Google translate can’t do it. The deal must mean the same thing legally in every language it’s signed off on ..which means lawyers involved in the translation process (meaning more time needed) /6

European Parliament wants its moment in limelight. It’s not keen to ratify next year after the deal is already being applied provisionally. Ongoing talk in Brussels of possibility of a vote between Christmas and New Year. Prob 28th Dec .. But first the deal must be agreed!! /7