EU states are readying themselves for the possibility of a Brexit deal being struck within the next few hours, by pencilling in a Christmas Eve meeting to start the ratification process.

Ambassadors in Brussels have been told to be available to meet on Thursday if the negotiations come to fruition. Diplomats representing the EU member states are already combing through some of the the 2,000 pages of legal text that have been agreed.

A vote by the European parliament to give consent to a trade and security agreement with the UK is no longer possible, given the lack of time left before the end of the transition period. The UK exits the single market and customs union in eight days’ time.

The capitals will instead have to agree to “provisional application” of the deal on 1 January, with MEPs having their vote later in the month. The process can still take up to a week, given the need for the treaty to be translated and scrutinised by the 27 governments.