EU summit on economy set for Feb 11

BRUSSELS: European Union President Herman Van Rompuy has called for a special summit of government leaders on Feb. 11 to discuss the economic crisis.

The EU president's first official day in office immediately centered on ways to bounce back from the financial meltdown and keep unemployment in check while safeguarding Western Europe's vaunted social security system.

He said Monday that EU leaders must spur growth "to preserve our European way of life."

EU leaders already have four regular EU summits per year.