Peter Spiegel commenting on the leak on his Brussels blog post noted that “it is a measure of how calm the financial markets have been that no major decisions are to be taken at the two-day get-together, which is supposed to focus on telecommunications and digital policy issues”.

An unnamed top EU diplomat was quoted by Spiegel saying “it’s not a summit for decisions. The objective is decisions at the December summit.”

European Council October 2013 Conclusions

Here are the basic conclusions of the communiqué as published by the FT Brussels blog :

“Signs of economic recovery are visible but this should not stop the EU from pursuing its efforts to increase growth potential, enhance job creation and boost European competitiveness. Today the European Council focused on the digital economy, innovation and services, as well as better regulation. These areas have a particular potential for growth and jobs which must be rapidly mobilized. The European Council provided concrete guidance so as to take full advantage of the existing potential. 

The European Council also looked at different economic and social policy areas. It took stock of the implementation of the initiatives taken in June in the fight against youth unemployment and the financing of the economy, in particular of small and medium-sized enterprises, and agreed on additional measures. 
The European Council held an in-depth discussion on completing the Economic and Monetary Union. It focused in particular on enhanced economic policy coordination, strengthening the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union and completing the Banking Union. As decided in June, the European Council will return to all these elements in December with a view to taking decisions. 
The European Council look ahead at the Eastern Partnership Summit which will be held in Vilnius on 28 and 29 November 2013. 
The European Council expressed its deep sadness at the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean in which hundreds of people lost their lives and decided to step up the Union's action so as to prevent such tragedies from happening again”.