European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso answers reporters' questions during a news conference prior to a European Union Heads of State and Government summit in Brussels March 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Leaders from the European Union (EU) member states opened a two-day summit in Brussels on Thursday to tackle economic cooling and global warming.

The spring summit is usually dominated by economic issues. This time, the leaders will pay particular attention to the launch of the second cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy, a flagship reform project of the 27-nation bloc aimed at promoting economic growth and jobs.

According to the EU's Slovenia presidency, EU leaders were scheduled to approve the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs and, at the same time, issue some important guidelines on the next cycle of the Lisbon Strategy.