国际英语新闻：EU leaders to hold special summit in February

BRUSSELS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is planning to hold a preparatory summit on economic issues at the end of this month before its spring summit in March, the executive Commission said on Monday.

    EU spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told a midday press briefing that the idea of the special summit came during "an intensive and constructive telephone conversation" between European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country is holding the EU presidency.

    He said that the two leaders will meet here on Wednesday to discuss the special summit's agenda and date.

    Laitenberger said that leaders at the informal special summit will have a preparatory exchange of views on economic recovery plans member states have unveiled in the face of the global financial crisis.

    The spring EU summit, which will take place in Brussels on March 19 and 20, will center on economic affairs and preparation for the April 2 London financial summit of the G20.

    The new summit may be held in the week after the Feb. 22 summit for the European nations from the G20 group.

    "The goal of this meeting of heads of state and government will be to examine steps taken up to now within the recovery plan and the efficiency of these steps," Topolanek said in Prague.

    It would examine "efforts going on in the member states with the economic stimulus" and "what could usefully be done also with a view to intensifying efforts," he added.

    The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, unveiled in November a plan of 200 billion euros (260 billion U.S. dollars)to stimulate economy, and member states produce their economic recovery plans afterwards to keep their economy from worsening.