EU leaders discuss the UK's renegotiations at a dinner in Brussels
David Cameron says progress has been made and he can see a "path" towards a deal next year
But he says there is a "lot of hard work" still to be done, including on the issue on curbs on benefits for EU migrants
Angela Merkel says she believes solutions can be found but she won't agree to anything discriminatory
UKIP's MP Douglas Carswell calls for a new party leader - but Nigel Farage tells him to "put up or shut up"
Text updates, video clips and BBC political programmes streamed live
Are David Cameron's attempts to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU having an impact?
Andrew Neil takes a look at what the polls suggest and Katharine Peacock from ComRes provides her analysis.
Katharine Peacock from ComRes gives her thoughts
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have issued a joint statement which rejects any UK EU reform demand that is either discriminatory or limits free movement, Reuters reports.
European Parliament president tweets...
Martin Schulz met Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in Brussels earlier - here's what he had to say about the meeting.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The Republic of Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny says the meeting would be "dominated" by discussions on migration - which he expects to be "contentious" and "intense" - and David Cameron's presentation on EU reform.
Quote MessageThere's very strong support principally for Britain remaining a central member of the European Union and I expect that the details and the contributions from the political leaders will be interesting this evening.
The taoiseach added that whatever the details were of the proposals, "they should benefit everybody in the European Union".
Image source, AFP/GettyFrench President Francois Hollande has arrived at the summit in Brussels.
Talking about David Cameron's bid for reform, he said: "If it is legitimate to listen to the British prime minister, it is unacceptable to revise founding European commitments."
David Cameron is preparing to use the full force of the law to clip the wings of the House of Lords after it blocked his welfare cuts, the BBC has learned.
A review will say peers should lose their absolute veto over detailed laws known as secondary legislation.
Conservative peer George Young and Labour peer Toby Harris joined Andrew Neil to discuss the proposals.
George Young and Toby Harris on proposals
Image source, AFP/GettyGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants there to be an open discussion on the UK's demand for reforms.
Quote MessageFrom the German point of view I will hold the debate in the spirit that we would like to keep Britain in the European Union, but at the same time do not want to limit the basic liberties, non-discrimination, free movement, of the European Union.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz has arrived for the summit.
He said: "We need to compromise between Cameron's proposals and the 27 other member states - but a compromise is possible."
BBC political editor tweets...
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Impressionist looks back at 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron has just spoken to reporters as he arrived at the summit. He's the full text of what he had to say:
Quote MessageToday is the day that our Referendum Bill has received Royal Assent, so as a result, our in/out referendum will be going ahead before the end of 2017.
Quote MessageTonight here in Brussels, we are going to have a conversation dedicated to Britain's renegotiation of its position in Europe.
Quote MessageI want to see real progress in all of the four areas that I've mentioned. We're not pushing for a deal tonight, but we're pushing for real momentum so that we can get this deal done.
Quote MessageSo I'm going to be battling hard for Britain, right through the night, and I think we will be getting a good deal.
David Cameron is preparing to meet EU leaders in Brussels, with discussions over the UK's proposals to change its relationship with the bloc on the agenda.
The PM and his European counterparts are gathering In Brussels, with their first working session at 15:45 GMT, on migration.
Talks on the UK's EU reform objectives will take place over a working dinner, beginning at 18:00 GMT. This will be the first time EU leaders will discuss the PM's aims in detail - with proposals to curb EU migrants' access to benefits expected to be a sticking point.
Here's a guide to what the UK wants from Europe and to the planned in-out referendum on EU membership which Mr Cameron has pledged to hold before 2018.
Some other highlights from today:
It's the last sitting day of the year for the House of Commons, which won't return until the New Year, on 5 January. Business continues for the House of Lords though, with peers not setting off for their Christmas holidays until 22 December. So all eyes are turning now towards the EU summit...
"I'm going to be battling hard for Britain right through the night," Prime Minister David Cameron said as he arrived at the summit.
David Cameron has arrived at the EU summit in Brussels.
Financial Times energy correspondent tweets...
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
BBC political correspondent
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The Oil and Gas Authority has awarded a raft of new licences to explore for oil and gas on the mainland of the UK.
The 93 licences to explore 159 blocks of land could pave the way for more controversial hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Parts of the Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the North West have been opened for exploration, external.
There are also licence blocks in the South of England and Wales.
Image source, PAThe Northern Ireland Executive is expected to approve a budget for 2016/17 at its meeting later.
The budget paper was signed off late on Wednesday night.
Stormont's block grant from Westminster will fall by about 1% next year.
However, departments have been told to prepare for cuts of up to 10%. That suggests that health, which accounts for almost half the budget, will have its spending protected.
European Parliament president tweets...
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
