BRUSSELS - Despite lacking sufficient progress in the lengthy and loose Brexit negotiation, the European Council on Friday gave a green light to discussions for second phase talks.

If the Council agrees at its next session in December that sufficient progress has been achieved, the second phase would be within touching distance.

The decision was the only silver lining of the discussion over Brexit during a two-day summit among leaders of Britain and 27 other EU members, which failed again to meet the high expectations of citizens living in a fear of a "no deal nightmare".