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The Brussels diplomat was warned the European Parliament’s consent for any agreement is not guaranteed. Speaking in Brussels, the institution’s Brexit representatives called on a legal text to be delivered as soon as possible so they can begin their ratification process. They have already had to make plans for an emergency vote on the Brexit trade deal for December 28 after talks missed their latest deadline.

David McAllister, the EU Parliament’s Brexit negotiator, warned: “There is still no agreement.

“I want to point out, we cannot simply wait until the very last minute to agree on a text since we as a Parliament have to scrutinise the final text.

“We, as the European Parliament, will have the last word. To give our consent, we need to receive a legal text as soon as possible.

“Nobody should underestimate the risk that a late submission entails for the orderly start of our new EU-UK relations.”

Despite making progress, EU and UK negotiators are said to still be at loggerheads over future access to Britain’s fishing grounds and common standards, including state aid rules.

Dutch MEP Kati Piri warned the Parliament would not cave on its “red lines” because a deal is set to be rubber-stamped at the last minute.

She told the debate: “It’s clear we urgently need white smoke.

“But let me reiterate, once again, that the Parliament will not move its red lines to ratify just any last-minute deal.”

In her own intervention, Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to to back a compromise as time runs out to secure a Brexit trade deal.

The European Commission chief said an agreement was far from certain because of the disputes over access to Britain’s coastal waters and common standards, including state aid.

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Britain is still refusing to sign up to follow the bloc’s evolving standards and offer European fishermen sufficient guarantees for opportunities, she said.

Speaking at the European Parliament, Mrs von der Leyen said: “These are decisive days for our negotiations with the United Kingdom. But, frankly I cannot tell you today if, in the end, there will be a deal.

“However, there’s still three issues that can make the difference between a deal and no deal.

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“We will do all in our power to reach an agreement, we’re ready to be creative.”

She insisted the EU would have to support a “compromise” at next month’s summit of leaders if they are to get the agreement over the line.

“It is when we managed to join forces that we Europeans can achieve the most. It is when we negotiate hard, and then stick to the compromise found that we move forward fast,” she said.

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