There is increasing optimism that a Brexit deal could finally be agreed by UK and EU, as soon as on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron said “I want to believe that a deal is being finalized and that we can approve it tomorrow [Thursday].” German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said she is increasingly of the belief” that an agreement would be reached. Earlier, European Council President Donald Tusk also noted “theoretically we could accept a deal tomorrow.”
The plan to publish a full legal text ahead of EU summit on Thursday and Friday, however, was put on hold, due to uncertainties on the British side. EU leaders are ready to approve the deal on condition of backing from UK House of Commons, at a special sitting on Saturday. ERG leader Steve Baker said after a backbench 1922 meeting that the deal in the works “could well be tolerable”. But the big question lies in Northern Ireland’s DUP.
