PM arrives in Brussels to meet Jean-Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier
Theresa May and David Davis have arrived in Brussels to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
The Prime Minister and her Brexit Secretary arrived at the Berlaymont shortly before 7am Brussels time (6am GMT) on Friday morning.
President @JunckerEU welcomes Prime Minister @theresa_may. Working breakfast underway. pic.twitter.com/9mYXCS1FIj
-- Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) December 8, 2017
The meeting follows a flurry of diplomacy by Mrs May late on Thursday that fuelled speculation that an agreement on plans to maintain a soft Irish border was edging closer.
A press conference is due to be held after the leaders meet.
-- Martin Selmayr (@MartinSelmayr) December 8, 2017
In an apparent sign that a Brexit deal has been done, Mr Juncker's head of cabinet Martin Selmayr tweeted a photograph of white smoke gushing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel - the traditional way of signalling that a new Pope has been chosen.
