European shares hit February highs on Wednesday, joining a global stock market rally on optimism around progress in COVID-19 vaccines and U.S. stimulus package, while all eyes turned to make-or-break Brexit talks. 
The pan-European STOXX 600 index and London’s FTSE 100 both climbed 0.3%. 
Minister for the Cabinet office, Michael Gove, on Wednesday said Britain and the EU should have a “smoother glide path” to a Brexit trade after they agreed on the Northern Ireland protocol – a major point of contention between the two sides – a day before.