European Union leaders begin an informal summit in Austria today, with two new faces among their number -- the new chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, and the newly-appointed Italian prime minister, Massimo D'Alema.

Issues to be discussed range from the possible creation of a European defence force to divisions over financial contributions from member states.

A BBC correspondent at the summit says eleven EU countries now have left-of-centre governments -- but they're faced with as many problems as opportunities because the EU's institutions remain deeply unpopular among many of its citizens.