All the same, if there are substantial and eye-catching changes to the convention text, or if (as seems quite likely) the inter-governmental conference simply fails to reach agreement on time next month, there will be much hand-wringing in Brussels, Paris and Berlin.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Another part of the Agreement will be implemented on Friday when the British Irish Council and British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference are established linking the administrations in London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

BBC: Historic day for north-south council