Parliament resumes with just 12 weeks to go until Britain leaves the European Union, and Prime Minister Theresa May faces a major battle to secure politicians’ backing for her Brexit deal.

Key Developments:

  • May sets up Cabinet committee to prepare for no-deal Brexit
  • Date for parliamentary vote on deal will be set on Wednesday

EU: ‘Closely’ Watching U.K. Developments (11:55 a.m.)

There’s little sign the European Union is preparing to offer May anything substantial to help her sell the agreement to Parliament.

“The deal that is on the table is the best and the only deal possible,” European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said in Brussels, adding that the bloc is “closely” watching Brexit developments in the U.K. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker plans to speak to May again this week.

“This deal will not be renegotiated,” Schinas said.

New Committee for No-Deal Preparations (11:50 a.m.)

May is setting up a new Cabinet committee of 21 ministers focused on no-deal planning to be chaired by the prime minister, her spokesman James Slack told reporters in London. Its remit will be contingency plans as well as “engagement” with the EU on no-deal planning.

Meanwhile the date for the parliamentary vote on May’s Brexit deal will be set on Wednesday via a business motion in Parliament, Slack said. May herself has said it will be around Jan. 15.

Slack also updated reporters on May’s calls with EU leaders over the Christmas break. She spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over the holiday, as well as the EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk. The aim is to get get assurances that the so-called Irish backstop won’t go on indefinitely, he said.

Slack was also asked if Parliament will have to work through weekends and holidays to get Brexit legislation passed in time for exit day on March 29. “We will do whatever is required to deliver that,” he replied.

German-Irish Brexit Talks Intensify (11:10 a.m.)

Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will travel to Dublin on Tuesday to address a gathering of Irish diplomats, returning an earlier visit by his Irish counterpart, Simon Coveney. It’s the latest intensification of German-Irish contacts as Westminster prepares to vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal next week.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke for 40 minutes by phone on Thursday at the German leader’s request. A day later, Varadkar addressed members of Bavaria’s ruling Christian Social Union party, and told reporters afterward he shares with Merkel a “strong desire” to aid May as she faces defeat in next week’s vote. He added the caveat, though, that they’d do what they could “within reason.”