EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels for an informal summit on Thursday, February 11, with a number of weighty topics on the agenda.

The morning's work session is set to centre round the bloc's attempts to write a new economic 10-year plan, with the aim of boosting competitiveness and creating jobs for the growing number of unemployed. Over lunch leaders will discuss the current market turmoil that has racked weaker eurozone members in recent weeks, and in particular debate potential emergency plans for Greece. Germany and other eurozone members are hatching plans to bail out the embattled Aegean state, with investors keenly anticipating an announcement on this topic after the meeting.

An EU source with an intimate knowledge of permanent president Herman Van Rompuy's current thinking told journalists on Wednesday, "It wouldn't surprise me if there was a communication on this subject."

All eyes will also be on Mr Van Rompuy himself, keenly assessing whether the meek-mannered former Belgian prime minister is capable of tackling the multitude of difficult problems and stamping his mark on the new EU post, created under the Lisbon Treaty, EUobserver reported.