Image source, AFP

Following that news that the UK and EU have struck a deal over trading arrangements for Northern Ireland, we've received some images from the meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

The spotlight will be fixed firmly on the DUP now as it comes under pressure to say yes to what Rishi Sunak has secured.

But don’t expect a pronouncement any time soon - the party has said it won’t be rushed into a decision.

Image source, Reuters

A party source told me the DUP’s legal minds were ready to go through the text line-by-line with a “fine tooth comb” to check that what has already been outlined to them by the government adds - or doesn’t - add up.

Getting the institutions at Stormont back remains the ultimate prize for Number 10 (in time for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April is the wish) but the timing is not in its gift.

Even if this deal leads to the DUP softening its stance, the return of devolution could still be some way off.

Jessica Parker
Brussels correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Talks have stretched - on and off - for more than a year.

There were real low points; particularly when the EU started suing the UK, infuriated by government plans to potentially start scrapping parts of the mutually-agreed treaty.

It seemed as though the two sides might be heading for a “trade war” unless someone blinked. In the end, they both did.

Rishi Sunak paused the legislation and Brussels effectively hit pause too on its legal action. Negotiations intensified and the mood changed. Gone were the days where diplomats would tell you “nothing” was really happening and that the talks were going nowhere.

Suddenly it was top secret and increasingly hard to find out what solutions were being discussed.

Sometimes the most acute phase of this is called the “tunnel”. But they’re through the tunnel now and at what they’ll hope will be a longer-lasting settlement for Northern Ireland than Plan A turned out to be.

Jessica Parker
Reporting from Brussels

My colleague Chris Mason in London has just heard that an agreement with the European Union is done.

An EU source in Brussels also confirms a deal has been struck.

Following on from reports Rishi Sunak has agreed a fresh Brexit deal - the prime minister has tweeted to give a slight update.

He says this afternoon he will hold a press conference with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen "on Northern Ireland".

He didn't give us a time - but stay with us and we will bring you the latest

Image source, Getty Images

So, we've heard from a senior government source that agreement has been reached, but at the moment we don't have any more detail to bring you.

With politicians warning that the devil's in the detail - what are the key issues to look out for when we do get more information?

• Role of the European Court of Justice. As things stand, Northern Ireland follows some EU trade rules - despite the fact the UK has left the EU. Indeed, it's an EU body - the European Court of Justice (ECJ) - that settles trade disputes. The government initially demanded the ECJ's oversight be removed - but the EU has resisted
• A say for Stormont. Northern Ireland can't formally influence EU rules as it's not a member state. That's despite continuing to follow some EU laws to ensure friction-free trade with the Republic of Ireland. Politicians and businesses in Northern Ireland largely believe Stormont should get a more meaningful role to address the "democratic deficit"
• How green is the green lane? The UK and EU agree that British goods which are staying in Northern Ireland should be subject to fewer checks and controls than products which are going to be moved across the border into the Republic of Ireland. Trusted traders would be allowed into a so-called green lane - but the details remain to be seen, including the question of who qualifies as a trusted trader
• Tax issues. Businesses in Northern Ireland follow EU rules on VAT and state aid. Sky News reports that the deal will include the UK retaking VAT powers in Northern Ireland. But will that be a comprehensive change or will it apply to a limited class of goods?

Read more here about the questions surrounding a new Northern Ireland Protocol deal.

Chris Mason
Political editor

A senior government source tells the BBC: "An agreement has been reached. The deal is done.”

Image source, Getty Images/ Future Publishing

The Democratic Unionist Party's "ultimate test" on whether or not it will support a new deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol rests on whether or not Northern Ireland will remain subject to EU law, the DUP's Sammy Wilson has said.

The protocol kept Northern Ireland inside the EU single market for goods, meaning that unlike the rest of the UK, its exports must continue to comply with EU regulations.

Wilson is a very senior DUP member, he is its parliamentary chief whip and is also the party's Brexit spokesperson.

Speaking to Talk TV, he suggested the jurisdiction of EU law would be the main issue for his party when they get to examine the text of the deal.

"All of the other problems that have arisen - the trade barriers, the disruption of trade; the inability for the government to apply government policy in Northern Ireland - all stem from the fact that Northern Ireland remains for manufactured goods and agriculture in the single market and is subject to Brussels law not British law," he said.

"And that will be the ultimate test for us as unionists. It ought to be the ultimate test for the prime minister."

The DUP have previously set out seven tests for a Northern Ireland deal.

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

If you're just joining us, welcome along.

All eyes are on Windsor, where EU chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived about half an hour ago to meet UK PM Rishi Sunak. They're thought to be very close to announcing a new post-Brexit arrangement for Northern Ireland.

Here's a look at what's to come for the rest of the day:

After their meeting... the PM, joined by the foreign secretary and Northern Ireland secretary, will update the cabinet.

If a deal has been agreed... Sunak and Von der Leyen are expected to hold a short joint press conference.

King Charles... is also due to meet Von der Leyen in Windsor, but we don't know when this is likely to take place. Buckingham Palace says the meeting is nothing to do with the Northern Ireland political conversations.

The text of the deal... (if one is agreed) may well be published at some point this afternoon, allowing MPs and others to begin to trawl through it.

Back in London... Sunak is due to give a statement to the UK Parliament at 18:30 GMT.

We'll bring you live updates and analysis as all these events unfold, stay with us.

The DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is on his way to London to get sight of the text of the deal that the UK government is hoping to strike with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

BBC News NI caught up with him as he made his way into the airport to catch his flight, but the DUP leader was giving little away

BBC reporter: "Are you thinking this is going to be a good deal for Northern Ireland?"

Sir Jeffrey: "I haven't seen it yet, so once we've seen the legal text we'll come to a view on that."

BBC reporter: "Do you feel positive?"

Sir Jeffrey: "Well, I'm neither positive nor negative. I think that we need to take time to look at the deal, what's available and how does that match our seven tests."

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has just arrived in Windsor where she was greeted by PM Rishi Sunak.

Image source, Reuters

A meeting between King Charles and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, taking place later today, has raised some eyebrows - including from one of the Conservative Party's most hardline Brexiteers.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the UK's former minister of state for Brexit opportunities, says it's "constitutionally unwise" for the meeting to take place around the signing of a new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.

"It is surprising... as it antagonises the people the prime minister needs to conciliate," he's quoted by the PA news agency as saying.

As we reported earlier, Downing Street has said the King's movements are a matter for Buckingham Palace.

The European Commission says the meeting is separate to talks on the protocol. And Buckingham Palace is framing the meeting as a regular encounter between the King as head of state and an international leader - without Brexit and Northern Ireland mentioned on the possible agenda.

The House of Commons has confirmed, external that the prime minister will make a statement about the Northern Ireland Protocol at 18:30 GMT.

Rishi Sunak's statement to MPs will take place after he meets with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen this afternoon where they are expected to sign off on a new post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

Image source, Getty Images

If the current talks between the UK government and the EU result in improved trade arrangements for Northern Ireland, was the DUP right to campaign for changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol?

That was the question asked of the leader of the Alliance Party, Naomi Long, who is also a former Stormont justice minister.

Alliance is among the Stormont parties which broadly supported the protocol because it protected Northern Ireland's tariff-free access to both the UK and EU markets.

"All parties campaigned for changes to the protocol to be clear," Long replied.

"We raised the issues of medicines; we've raised the issue of a veterinary agreement; we've raised issues around state aid and all of the things that have been discussed.

"The question is whether or not how the DUP campaigned was right, and I don't think there is ever a justification for collapsing government," she added.

The prime minister has arrived in Windsor, just outside London, where he's due to meet EU chief Ursula von der Leyen this afternoon.

We'll bring you all the latest on their sit down when we have it, stay with us.

Sean Coughlan
BBC News, royal correspondent

Buckingham Palace sources have stressed that the King’s meeting with Ursula von der Leyen is being carried out on the advice of the government.

They have been keen to frame the meeting as a regular encounter between the King as head of state and an international leader, one of a steady stream of such meetings with visiting dignitaries.

The possible agenda mentions anything apart from Brexit and Northern Ireland - such as climate change and Ukraine.

It reflects the balancing act between the monarch being politically neutral, but at the same time having an important constitutional role.

Nonetheless there will inevitably be a symbolic power to the photos that emerge from such meetings, a visual impression of cordiality and agreement.

And there has been a family history of bridge building, such as the late Queen’s historic visit to Ireland in 2011.

But the message today is that tea will be served at Windsor Castle, rather than serving political purposes.

Reality Check

We mentioned earlier that Jacob Rees-Mogg was talking about the importance of what Boris Johnson says about any new deal.

It's worth reminding ourselves of what the former prime minister said about the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He promised there would be no border down the Irish Sea and no checks on goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Neither of these pledges turned out to be accurate.

You can read more of what Johnson said about the protocol here.

Chris Page
Ireland correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

It is important to remember that although it is the DUP currently vetoing the formation of a power-sharing devolved government in Belfast, the other parties in Northern Ireland will be very keen to have their say on what is agreed.

Three of Stormont's five main parties have broadly supported the Northern Ireland Protocol as a means of managing the fall-out from Brexit.

They are:

• the nationalist party Sinn Féin - now the biggest party in the devolved assembly
• the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) which is the second biggest nationalist party
• the Alliance party, which is neither unionist nor nationalist

These parties want any new agreement between London and Brussels to maintain what they would see as the big economic advantage of the protocol - that Northern Ireland businesses can sell their goods, tariff free, into both the UK market and the EU market.

That, they would say, puts Northern Ireland in a unique position and that should continue.

So as ever in this part of the UK, it's a complex political picture.

Speaking in Downing Street, the Northern Ireland minister and Eurosceptic Steve Baker has given reporters a brief update:

He said: “The PM is on the cusp of securing a really fantastic result for everyone involved.”

Baker, a leading Brexiteer, was chair of the influential Tory European Research Group (ERG) and will have a heavy interest in how Rishi Sunak's post-Brexit agreement will play out.

Rishi Sunak has tweeted , externalto say he's "looking forward" to his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen later today.

The UK PM confirmed the pair will be meeting in Windsor for "further talks on the shared, practical solutions to the range of complex challenges around the Northern Ireland Protocol".

Only time will tell if they, and their teams of negotiators, have managed to do just that: come up with a solution to the range of issues caused by the implementation of the Protocol in 2020.

It's still not clear what time exactly Sunak and von der Leyen are due to sit down, but we'll let you know once we've heard more.