Haggling over Keir Starmer's Brexit 'reset' looks to be going to the wire ahead of a crunch summit on Monday.
The PM is hoping to unveil an 'ambitious' new relationship with Ursula von der Leyen in London, boosting trade and security.
Allies see the pact as essential for his core mission of getting more growth out of the economy.
However, discussions have been plagued by French demands for access to UK fishing waters - to the evident frustration of some Brussels officials.
Britain is expected to align with EU plant and animal health rules in a Swiss-style arrangement. That should end the so-called 'sausage wars', which have seen exports of chilled meats restricted for the past four years.
