EU leaders take steps to reassure MPs over backstoppublished at 22:45 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming says EU leaders are considering making a commitment to continue negotiating a trade deal with the UK even if the Irish backstop comes into force.
He says the move is aimed to reassure the House of Commons that the backstop will be a temporary measure.
However he notes that this would not be a legally binding commitment.