BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders could hand Theresa May an olive branch in deadlocked Brexit negotiations next week by launching their own internal preparations for a transition to a new relationship with Britain.
Draft conclusions submitted by summit chair Donald Tusk to the 27 other EU governments made final Brussels' rejection of opening free trade talks now. But they also but gave the beleaguered British prime minister hope that they would do so in December -- and that, if she ups her offers on divorce terms, the EU will be ready to start talking almost right away.