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| Brexit: Jean-Claude Juncker says chance of deal has increased | Brexit: Jean-Claude Juncker says chance of deal has increased |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The chance of the UK and the EU agreeing a Brexit deal has grown in the last few days, the head of the European Commission has said. | The chance of the UK and the EU agreeing a Brexit deal has grown in the last few days, the head of the European Commission has said. |
| Speaking to the Austrian press, Jean-Claude Juncker said that while he was not sure an agreement could be reached by October, it could be by November. | Speaking to the Austrian press, Jean-Claude Juncker said that while he was not sure an agreement could be reached by October, it could be by November. |
| Foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan also expressed optimism that a deal could be reached before December. | Foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan also expressed optimism that a deal could be reached before December. |
| The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019. | The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019. |
| But there is still no agreement on some issues, including how to avoid new checks on the Irish border. | But there is still no agreement on some issues, including how to avoid new checks on the Irish border. |
| Asked in an interview whether an agreement could be reached at the next meeting of European leaders in 11 days' time, Mr Juncker said: "We are not that far yet. But our will is unbroken to reach agreement with the British government." | |
| He also reiterated his position that a no-deal scenario "would not be good" for either the UK or the EU. | He also reiterated his position that a no-deal scenario "would not be good" for either the UK or the EU. |
| EU officials gave an upbeat assessment of progress in the negotiations on Friday evening and reported a better atmosphere in talks over the Irish border. | EU officials gave an upbeat assessment of progress in the negotiations on Friday evening and reported a better atmosphere in talks over the Irish border. |
| That prompted sterling to rise against the Euro and the US dollar. | That prompted sterling to rise against the Euro and the US dollar. |
| The BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming said officials still "seem to be pushing for the whole withdrawal agreement to basically be done" by the EU summit on 17 October. | |
| "Although, if we have learned anything from Brexit it's that the timetable is incredibly flexible, to use diplomatic language," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
| The positive comments came as the Guardian reported senior Conservatives had been in private contact with a number of Labour MPs to persuade them to back Theresa May's Brexit deal. | |
| It comes weeks after the head of the European Council Donald Tusk said Theresa May's Brexit plans were unworkable. | |
| Both sides had hoped to finalise the so-called divorce agreement and agree a statement on their future economic co-operation by the October summit. | Both sides had hoped to finalise the so-called divorce agreement and agree a statement on their future economic co-operation by the October summit. |
| But last month, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that if both sides were "realistic" there could be an agreement by November, when a special one-off summit has been arranged. | But last month, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that if both sides were "realistic" there could be an agreement by November, when a special one-off summit has been arranged. |
| The European Commission is also considering whether to publish an analysis of where the two sides agree on elements of their future relationship. | The European Commission is also considering whether to publish an analysis of where the two sides agree on elements of their future relationship. |
| It could appear alongside the EU's latest contingency plans for a no-deal scenario, which will be released next week. | It could appear alongside the EU's latest contingency plans for a no-deal scenario, which will be released next week. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions, Sir Alan Duncan was also optimistic about the prospects of a deal. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions, Sir Alan Duncan was also optimistic about the prospects of a deal. |
| "We are in the art of the possible here, and from what I see in government, I think that we will get a deal, be it in October or November at the two consecutive summits," he said. | "We are in the art of the possible here, and from what I see in government, I think that we will get a deal, be it in October or November at the two consecutive summits," he said. |