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World

EU leaders meet to talk about how to jumpstart growth, deal long term with Russia

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras arrives for a meeting of EPP members ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. European Union leaders meet with the top agenda item an ambitious plan to use EU seed money and loan guarantees to jumpstart investment and revive the EU's growth and job creation rates. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) (The Associated Press)

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    Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov arrives for a meeting of EPP members ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. European Union leaders meet with the top agenda item an ambitious plan to use EU seed money and loan guarantees to jumpstart investment and revive the EU's growth and job creation rates. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) (The Associated Press)

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    German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a meeting of EPP members ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. European Union leaders meet with the top agenda item an ambitious plan to use EU seed money and loan guarantees to jumpstart investment and revive the EU's growth and job creation rates. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) (The Associated Press)

BRUSSELS – Leaders of the 28 European Union countries are meeting to talk about two major issues — how to jumpstart sluggish economic growth at home, and how to deal long-term with Russia.

EU President Donald Tusk, the official host of Thursday's meeting in Brussels, said he expects the leaders to call for the urgent establishment of a strategic investment fund.

The fund is supposed to leverage EU seed money into up to 315 billion euros ($386 billion) of public and private investment to upgrade infrastructure, create jobs and stimulate growth.

Over dinner, Tusk said, the leaders will discuss long-term policy toward Russia.

To resolve the ongoing crisis over Ukraine, Tusk said, the European Union must agree on a "tough and responsible" strategy for dealing with President Vladimir Putin and his country.