Johnson, Juncker speak to unblock Brexit deal

• Boris Johnson and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke by phone on Thursday.
• Juncker, the head of the EU's executive arm, "just spoke to Boris Johnson.
• The EU and UK negotiating teams are continuing just hours ahead of the meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

BRUSSELS: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke by phone on Thursday in a last-ditch attempt to strike a Brexit deal ahead of an EU summit.

Juncker, the head of the EU's executive arm, "just spoke to Boris Johnson. Every hour and minute counts" before the summit, EU spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said in a tweet.

"We want a deal," she said, adding that contacts between the EU and UK negotiating teams are continuing just hours ahead of the meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.