European Council President Charles Michel delivers remarks to journalists in the European Council atrium ahead of an EU leaders' dinner at the European headquarters in Brussels, on December 14, 2023. EU leaders are meeting in Brussels in what is seen as an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership's perspective of the Western Balkans. The crunch summit in Brussels, which diplomats fear could drag on longer than the two days planned, comes as fears mount over Western backing for Ukraine nearly two years into Russia's war. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)