Brussels - The European Union was doing all it could to combat its worst recession in 60 years, the bloc's leaders said as they met in Brussels to discuss the global economy and reforms of the international financial markets.

"All member states have adopted important stimulus programmes," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is seen as one of the strongest opponents to any further increases in the bloc's 400-billion-euro (540-billion-dollar) economic recovery package.

Brussels - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday threatened to scupper plans to use European Union funds to stimulate the economy, insisting the money should only be used to finance projects capable of delivering immediate results.

"Any additional measures should only be taken if a substantial part of these measures can be implemented very quickly. Otherwise, they would not help tackle the crisis," Merkel said as she arrived for an EU summit in Brussels.

Brussels - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday urged European Union governments to implement the bloc's fiscal stimulus plan, warning that calls to do more would undermine confidence in a swift recovery.

"Let's implement the plan and review it if necessary," Barroso said. "Saying (now) the plan is not enough will not build confidence."

Brussels  - European Union leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to forge a common position on how to better regulate the international financial markets, whose persisting crisis is feeding into the bloc's rapidly-deteriorating economic outlook.

The spring council meeting in Brussels is seen as a key stepping stone towards London's Group of 20 summit on April 2, which will be called on to overhaul the global financial sector and avoid future credit crunches.

Brussels  - American economist and Nobel laurate Paul Krugman said Tuesday that Europe and the United States should at least double their fiscal efforts in order to salvage the global economy.

"The United States is not doing enough to fight the crisis, and Europe is doing a bit less than half as much as the US. So no, it's inadequate," Krugman said after a meeting with EU officials in Brussels.

Brussels  - The European Union could boycott a planned United Nations conference on racism, set for April 20, because of alleged anti-Western and anti-Semitic references in draft documents, the bloc's presidency said Monday.

"The EU will probably send suggestions. If the conference papers are in line with that we will stay, otherwise there is a strong call to withdraw," Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.