Juncker and Johnson: Brexit poker on the phone before the EU summit

The news on Wednesday evening sounded positive: EU and Britain have come together in crucial Brexit issues. A contract can still be expected - it depends on details. Just before today's EU summit in Brussels, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker tried to make further progress on the phone.

The breakthrough, however, apparently did not materialize. Details of the conversation are unknown. A spokeswoman for the European Commission tweeted: "Every hour and minute counts before the EU summit, we want an agreement".

Contacts between #EU and UK teams are continuing. @JunckerEU just spoke to @BorisJohnson. Every hour and minute counts before the #EUCO. We want a #deal.

Time is running out. Johnson wants to lead his country out of the EU on 31 October, if necessary without an agreement with the EU. However, in September, the UK Parliament had by law obliged Johnson to request a Brexit shift if there was no agreement with the EU on an agreement by 19 October. At today's summit on Thursday and Friday, EU leaders will assess progress in the Brexit negotiations.

The crux of the negotiations is the future VAT regime for the British province of Northern Ireland, said several AFP diplomats. The Northern Irish party DUP, which plays a key role in the British parliament, rejected the previous Brexit plan.

Angela Merkel spoke in the morning in a government statement on the state of negotiations. "We are not there yet," said the Chancellor.

Significant progress has been made in the talks on a regular departure of the British from the EU in recent days, Merkel said. However, she still can not say how the EU summit will end. It is also possible that there will be a special summit before the planned departure date on 31 October.

A good solution is a "squaring of the circle" and several times one thought to be already before a breakthrough. The principles of the EU internal market should not be questioned. But is a regulated Brexit in the interest of all, stressed the Chancellor.

A few hours before the EU summit, the chances of a quick Brexit agreement had dropped again shortly before Merkel's speech. The Northern Irish Protestant Party DUP rejects parts of the proposals to leave the EU on the eve of London and Brussels. There are ambiguities in customs and VAT issues.