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The Prime Minister spent little under two hours in the EU Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters as she fought for Brexit’s life amid threats from Germany that Angela Merkel will shun Sunday’s special summit if further negotiations aren’t concluded by this morning. Sources from within the meeting declared “very good progress” has been made but kept quiet on whether negotiations would need to continue further to conclude the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration on the UK and EU’s future relationship. The Prime Minister, however, conceded there are further issues to resolve.

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She said: "We have had a very good meeting this evening."

"There were some remaining issues which we have discussed, which I have discussed with President Junker this evening," she added.

"We have been able to give direction to our negotiators on resolving those issues so further progress has been made.

"And as I say, I will be returning on Saturday for further meetings, including again with President Junker to discuss how we can ensure that we can conclude this process in the way which is in interests in all our people."

The Prime Minister refused to delve into the details of the outstanding issues but promises to deliver this weekend.

She said: "There are some further issues that need resolution. We have given direction to our negotiators this evening. The work on those issues will now start immediately. I believe we have been able to given sufficient direction for them to be able to resolve those remaining issues."

A European Commission spokesman said: “Very good progress was made in the meeting between President Juncker and Prime Minister Theresa May.

“Work is continuing.”

Earlier it was revealed that Germany’s EU ambassador had warned Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier that the blueprint for the future relationship must be published before Thursday afternoon or Mrs Merkel’s attendance at the special Brexit summit would be called into question.

Express.co.uk understands the German Chancellor informed her man in Brussels that she will boycott the summit unless the draft political declaration is circulated to European capitals today.