EU leaders have agreed on a plan to delay the Article 50 process, postponing Brexit beyond 29 March.
EU leaders have agreed on a plan to delay the Article 50 process, postponing Brexit beyond 29 March.
The UK will be offered a delay until 22 May, if MPs approve the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU next week.
The UK will be offered a delay until 22 May, if MPs approve the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU next week.
If they do not, the EU will back a shorter delay until 12 April, allowing the UK time to get the deal through or to "indicate a way forward".
If they do not, the EU will back a shorter delay until 12 April, allowing the UK time to get the deal through or to "indicate a way forward".
The UK is due to leave the EU in eight days, with or without a deal, if no extension is agreed.
European Council President Donald Tusk said Mrs May had agreed to the proposals.
European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that a "unanimous" agreement had been reached:
He tweeted that a "unanimous" agreement had been reached:
In a press conference with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Mr Tusk said that, until 12 April - by when the UK would have to indicate whether it would stand candidates in the 2019 European Parliament elections - "all options remain on the table .. the UK government will still have a chance of a deal, not deal, a long extension or revoking Article 50".
If the UK has not decided by 12 April if it is taking part in the elections the "option of a long extension will automatically become impossible", he said.
He added that the atmosphere was "much better than I had expected" among EU leaders in discussions and he was now "much more realistic".
Discussions ran late into the evening on Thursday amid reports of disagreement between the 27 other EU leaders about the details.
Discussions ran late into the evening on Thursday amid reports of disagreement between the 27 other EU leaders about the details.
They are understood to have discussed potential dates of 7 May or a longer delay until the end of the year.
They are understood to have discussed potential dates of 7 May or a longer delay until the end of the year.
In Brussels, Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to leaders to try to get their backing for a delay, after MPs twice rejected the withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the European Union.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said EU leaders were taking ages to agree on whether to give Theresa May a short extension to the Article 50 process, in order to try to get the withdrawal deal through the Commons, and whether to allow a potential long extension, if the deal is defeated again.
Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to EU leaders in Brussels to try to get their backing for a delay until 30 June, after MPs twice rejected the withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the European Union.
She has told European Council President Donald Tusk that she needs more time to get her deal agreed by MPs and passed into law.
The BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming said Mrs May had spoken to EU leaders for 90 minutes and was asked several times what her contingency plans were if she lost the third "meaningful vote" on her deal in Parliament.
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said that unity among the 27 other EU leaders appeared to have started to fray when the UK prime minister was unable to give any concrete reassurances that she would be able to get the deal through next week.
She added that she had been told that a short extension until 7 May will be offered, unless by 11 April the UK says it will take part in European Parliamentary elections, in which case the delay could be until the end of the year.
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that if MPs vote down Mrs May's EU withdrawal agreement next week, the UK will leave without a deal.
"In the case of a negative British vote then we'd be heading to a no deal. We all know it. And it's essential to be clear in these days and moments," said Mr Macron as he arrived at the summit.
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that a short Brexit delay "should be conditional on a positive vote next week in the House of Commons".
"We have done our best, now the solution is in London," he said.
What is the Plan B?
What is the Plan B?
By Reality Check's Chris Morris
By Reality Check's Chris Morris
It's been clear that EU leaders believe a short extension of the Article 50 process is possible.
It's been clear for some time that EU leaders believe a short extension of the Article 50 process is possible.
But there have been different views about how long "short" should be. And a strict interpretation of the law rules out an extension until the end of June, if the UK doesn't take part in European elections.
But there have been different views about how long "short" should be.
That's why the 27 EU leaders offer a possible extension until 22 May, the day before voting in the elections begins.
If the UK doesn't take part in European elections, a strict interpretation of the law rules out an extension until the end of June, which is what the prime minister had requested.
For now, the focus is on the condition that an extension can be offered only if UK MPs vote for the Brexit deal next week. But EU leaders know the numbers don't look good for the government.
That's why the 27 EU leaders are offering a possible extension until 22 May, the day before voting in the elections begins.
So, what does their Plan B look like? President Macron said that a "no" vote from MPs would guide us towards no deal.
Such an extension is only being offered, though, on the condition that UK MPs vote for the Brexit deal in the House of Commons next week. And EU leaders know the numbers there don't look good for the government.
But would he say the same thing in a week's time, when there may have to be another emergency EU summit just before the Brexit deadline?
So their second offer is a much shorter extension until 12 April, by which time the UK would have to legislate for holding elections in May.
A longer extension - an idea rejected by Theresa May - remains a possibility. But the legal and political calculations that surround it are complex, and difficult to predict.
The government insists that it has no intention of taking part in the elections.
On her arrival in Brussels, Mrs May said she "sincerely hopes" the UK will leave the EU with a deal and she is still "working on" ensuring Parliament's agreement.
But the language used by the EU keeps the possibility of UK participation open. That means that a much longer extension has not been ruled out, even though that too is an idea that has been rejected by Theresa May.
She said that she had "personal regret" over her request to delay Brexit, but said it would allow time for MPs to make a "final choice".
So the legal and political calculations that surround the EU's offer are complex, and the outcome is difficult to predict.
Mrs May said: "A short extension gives us that opportunity to decide to leave the European Union, to deliver on that result of that referendum and I sincerely hope that will be with a negotiated deal."
But if Mrs May accepts, it confirms that the UK will not be leaving the EU on 29 March as originally intended.
She added: "I'm still working on ensuring that Parliament can agree a deal so that we can leave in an orderly way."
Earlier, speaking in the German Parliament, Angela Merkel said the EU could meet Mrs May's request to delay Brexit if in the next week there was a "positive vote" on the withdrawal agreement in the UK Parliament.
The German Chancellor said European elections at the end of May would have to be considered during discussions on the suggested extension deadline of 30 June, adding: "But of course we can certainly talk about a short term extension."
