EU to sign Brexit agreement; on alert over coronavirus

European Union said it would take important steps to finalise United Kingdom's withdrawal from bloc when presidents of European Commission and European Council sign agreement on Friday.

European Parliament n has to vote withdrawal agreement into law before January 31 for deal to be finalised on EU side.

Meanwhile, new virus outbreak in China has put European Union health service on alert, with European Center on Disease Prevention Control raising its risk assessment of viruses entering EU from low to moderate.

European Commission spokesperson, Stefan De Keersmaecker said: "I would like to stress that for Commission it is very important that we coordinate very well responses with all members states."

Commission says it is in direct contact with health ministers from France and Italy because both countries have direct flight connections with region of Wuhan, China.

"Which is region as you kw where virus has been detected for first time," said De Keersmaecker