The European Union (EU)'s first full-time president Herman Van Rompuy marked his first working day on Monday with a call for a special summit among EU leaders to discuss economic issues.
"This is my first official working day. I am preparing already the next European Council (summit) on Feb. 11, I took the initiative to convene this council," Van Rompuy, who took office in the New Year but just started his job today due to the holiday, said in a statement.
"We need more economic growth in order to finance on a sound basis our social model, to preserve our European way of life," he added.
EU leaders usually meet in March, which is traditionally focused on the economy.
It was widely expected that the special summit in February would not only tackle the current economic crisis, but also start talks on a new
10-year economic plan for the EU.