Have seen positive progress with Brexit talks, says Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said recent days had seen significant shifts in the discussion surrounding Brexit in London, and she hoped this would let Britain's Prime Minister present workable proposals to her fellow leaders next week.

Speaking after discussions with her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar, Merkel repeated that she would fight to the end for an orderly Brexit, and that under all circumstances "we must succeed" in preventing a hard border dividing Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

"We hope that intensive discussions in London can lead even by next Wednesday, when we will have our extraordinary summit, to a position that British Prime Minister Theresa May can present to us, that we can then discuss."