Thread by @faisalislam

So here are EU27 conclusions, just agreed on Article 50 - top line - no sufficient progress for trade talks. But some ongoing encouragement

Thread on EU27 conclusions:
1. "Welcomes progress on citizens rights" - but direct reference in the Conclusions to the "role of the ECJ"

2. Some progress on Ireland on protecting GFA, maintaining Common Travel Area, avoiding hard border -over to UK on how outside Customs Union

3. Consolidate progress in order to be able to move to the second phase of the negotiations "as soon as possible" - not specifically by Dec

4. Sufficient progress assessed in relation to 3 Phase 1 issues at December 14/15 EU Summit - if achieved then EU28 trade/transition talks

5. For now, Barnier and the EU27 can start "internal preparatory discussions" to save time renegotiating a fresh mandate after Dec Summit

6. So the EU have gone far to sugar coat the lack of sufficient progress/ trade talks in order to continue slowish momentum towards Dec

7. Trade & transition talks in 8 weeks dangled as a carrot in order to help UK/ Tory internal politics adjust to higher financial settlement

8. Florence gambit to bust open phasing of talks did not work, but did create some slow momentum, reciprocated slowly

9. 8 weeks for PM to align her party and her Cabinet against backdrop of tricky Withdrawal Bill, Budget, businesses activating contingencies

10 Cancelling November would be helpful to No10 right now. Perhaps not much more challenging than aligning Cabinet, EU27, Commons & business