Theresa May is heading to Brussels to speak to EU leaders as she battles to keep hopes of a Brexit deal alive.
Expectations of a breakthrough are low, with talks deadlocked over the Irish border issue.
EU leaders say it is up to the UK prime minister to come up with fresh ideas to solve it.
Mrs May is sticking to the plan she has already set out – but there is speculation the post-Brexit transition period could be extended.
This European Council meeting was meant to be the occasion when the remaining 27 EU member states gave the green light for a special summit in November to finalise the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
Both sides want to get an agreement in place within the next few weeks to avoid the prospect of the UK leaving without a deal on 29 March.
But chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to say talks have failed to make the “decisive progress” the EU wanted to see before agreeing to a special summit. Read more