Rule of law, environmental protection, and minority rights will feature high on the agenda in Brussels and Strasbourg as 2019 comes to a close.

The remaining 27 EU countries also told the UK to quickly ratify the withdrawal agreement, and start negotiations on future trade. The EU is keen to protect its own interests and prevent unfair competition from Britain.

Britain is almost certain to leave the EU in January after a huge election win for prime minister Boris Johnson, but Scotland aims to break off and stay.

A visit to Carme Forcadell, the former Speaker of the Catalan parliament, currently imprisoned near Tarragona.

EU leaders agreed on setting a climate-neutrality by 2050 target early on Friday morning - although Poland refused to endorse the target, leaving the crucial summit without unanimity.

EU leaders on Thursday endorsed the idea of holding a two-year post-Brexit soul-searching exercise across the EU at their summit.