Europe's leaders are to gather in Brussels for what is being billed as one of the most important summits for years.
The pressure is on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his 26 counterparts to display a united front and deliver deals to tackle climate change and the economic crisis, as well as keeping the stalled Lisbon Treaty on track.
But the meeting comes amid growing controversy over all three issues, with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso describing the two-day summit as: "Perhaps the most crucial European Council in recent years... and the most important in which I have participated as Commission President."
And French President Nicholas Sarkozy, chairing the talks, has said in a letter to fellow leaders: "We shall be required to take a series of decisions with highly significant implications for the future of Europe.
"I am determined that the European Council lives up to its responsibility and to citizens' expectations and I am sure that each one of us will be able to show the vision and spirit of compromise necessary for success."
EU officials are not so convinced. Some member states are questioning the wisdom of expensive, ambitious climate change targets at a time of recession, while disputes are looming over moves to get national exchequers in Europe to spend their way out of the economic gloom.
The UK strongly supports sticking to Europe's climate change targets of cutting CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020 and of getting 20% of Europe's energy needs from renewable energy sources by the same date.
One senior source commented: "If we don't do the deal (on how to achieve the targets) at this summit, it will be very difficult for the EU to get its act together and send the political signal that we are setting the pace on climate change, If we falter now, getting the Americans and the more reluctant countries on board will be difficult."
Mr Brown also backs the European Commission's proposed £160 billion economic recovery package - not least because it mirrors much of what the Treasury has already proposed in cutting VAT and stimulating growth.
The Commission insists it is not meant to be a "one-size-fits-all" strategy, but Brussels is pressing for each government to commit 1.2% of GDP to tackling the economic crisis.
