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After a nine-hour migration marathon, the EU27’s heads of state made light work of the Article 50 discussions on the agenda, signing off draft conclusions minutes after they entered the room. Theresa May, on Thursday, was given the opportunity to brief her European counterparts on Brexit, urging the European Commission and member states to be more flexible in their approach. The Prime Minister centred her argument on security, warning a failure to conclude a satisfactory partnership would put citizens on both sides of the Channel at risk. However, the remaining 27 member states were little swayed by her intervention and voted through a draft conclusions which had been finalised earlier in the week – with one minor extra, a mention of Gibraltar.

Brexit news: EU leaders urge deal for Gibraltar in UK withdrawal agreement

Aspects still need to be agreed, including the territorial application of the withdrawal agreement, notably as regards Gibraltar EU Council

Under the guidance of the Spanish delegation, the Rock was brought into question because of the lack of certainty around when the British Overseas Territory will be part of the withdrawal agreement. The document said: “The European Council takes note, however, that other important aspects still need to be agreed, including the territorial application of the Withdrawal Agreement, notably as regards Gibraltar." European leaders agreed Britain must reach a deal with Spain on the status of Gibraltar after Brexit, noting such a deal should be part of the withdrawal agreement. Madrid have been pushing for joint jurisdiction of the airport in Gibraltar, meaning Spanish police could be stationed inside the Rock’s borders.

Elsewhere, the Council has continued to put pressure on Britain to strike a deal on the troublesome Irish backstop, which has plagued negotiations up until this point. Their communique said: “The European Council expresses its concern that no substantial progress has yet been achieved on agreeing a backstop solution for Ireland and Northern Ireland. “It recalls the commitments undertaken by the UK in this respect in December 2017 and March 2018, and insists on the need for intensified efforts so that the Withdrawal Agreement, including its provisions on transition, can be concluded as soon as possible in order to come into effect on the date of withdrawal. “It recalls that negotiations can only progress as long as all commitments undertaken so far are respected in full.”

EU Summit 2018 LIVE pictures as talks progress to Brexit Fri, June 29, 2018 EU countries' leaders meet on 28 and 29 June for a summit to discuss migration in general, the installation of asylum-seeker processing centres in northern Africa, and other security- and economy-related topics including Brexit. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 36 Hungarian Prime Minister Vickor Orban talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The EU’s position also includes an offer to Westminster to soften its Brexit red lines in return for a more favourable offer from Brussels. A so-called ‘evolution’ clause says the EU’s negotiating guidelines can change but only if Mrs May changes her stance. Ahead of briefing the EU27, Michel Barnier warned of “huge and serious divergences” between the UK and EU positions. The European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator told reporters: “We have made progress, but huge and serious divergence remains on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Michel Barnier at the EU Summit