The European Union is warning that Thursday’s summit may be the last chance to avoid a cliff-edge choice between another delay to Brexit and the economic damage of the U.K. leaving without a deal.

The prospects of an agreement at a crucial EU leaders’ gathering in Brussels receded on Thursday morning when Boris Johnson’s Northern Irish allies warned they will not support the proposed accord.

Despite the progress made between EU and U.K. negotiators on Wednesday, the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Johnson’s administration, raised a series of concerns.

The British and European negotiating teams have been working intensively to finalize a legal text in time for EU leaders to sign off at a summit in Brussels starting on Thursday. Hopes rose on Wednesday that an accord was within sight.

Source : Bloomberg