EU summit to focus on monetary union

Leaders of the 27-member European Union will debate a report on the future of an EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) during their two-day meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (13 and 14 Dec). "The main purpose of this meeting will be for us to discuss a "specific and timebound roadmap" for the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union," President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said in his invitation letter to the EU leaders. The letter released to the press here tonight said "it is indeed crucial that, in order to boost confidence in the long term viability of the EMU, we set out the milestones that will ensure we close the gaps in the EMU architecture which were revealed by the crisis." Van Rompuy said he has prepared a background report on the subject which will be discussed by the EU leaders.