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European Union leaders are faced with the daunting task of overcoming stalemate on key environmental and economic policy issues, while competing to influence the biggest appointment in Brussels’ history: the first full-time European presiden
If the 27 EU leaders ever needed a moment of unity, this would be it. Brought together at a summit in Brussels, they are faced with the daunting task of overcoming stalemate on key environmental and economic policy issues, all while competing to influence the biggest appointment in Brussels’ history: the first full-time European president.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a celebratory mood following an eve-of-summit dinner with Angela Merkel just hours after she was sworn in for a second term, said the Franco-German ‘couple’, long considered drivers of European policy, were in “almost total” agreement on the key issues.

This is hardly the case with all their European counterparts, however. Czech President Vaclav Claus, who, after much kicking and screaming, agreed on Wednesday to sign the Lisbon Treaty on EU reform if his country is guaranteed an opt-out clause, will miss the summit. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, beset by sex, corruption and media intimidation scandals at home, has called in sick.