What are the prospects of a deal being struck this week on the energy and climate package, the third part of the triptych that the European Council will be deciding upon? It is just as important to the French Presidency as the other two parts (economic recovery and the Lisbon Treaty - see my column in the previous two newsletters) and it has even indicated that it might convene a new European Council on 30 December 2008, if necessary. This is probably a way of upping the political pressure...