A two-day European Union summit has opened in Barcelona, Spain. 

Leaders from 15 EU member nations and 13 candidate countries are to discuss integrating Europe's labor, energy and financial markets, reforms agreed to at the Lisbon summit two years ago. They are looking to open up their national economies more to competition from other member states, relax cross-border financial restrictions and liberalize protectionist labor policies. 

Officials hope the meeting breathes new life into an initiative aimed at making the European Union the world's most competitive economy by 2010. Foreign policy matters, including Zimbabwe, the Middle East and the Balkans also are to receive attention at the summit. 

Leaders are expected to call for joint European, U.S. and Arab backing to a Saudi peace plan, which proposes that Arab states make peace with Israel, if it withdrawals from the territories occupied in the 1967 war. 

Many EU governments are said to be considering sanctions against Zimbabwe in the wake of what are called serious flaws in the southern African nation's presidential elections. 

Security is tight for the Barcelona meeting with fighter jets patrolling the skies and increased security forces deployed in the Mediterranean port city to prevent violence from planned demonstrations. 

Officials have expressed concern that Islamic militants could strike in retaliation for Spain detaining suspected members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network. Security forces are also on alert to prevent violence from the Basque separatist group ETA, as well as anti-globalization protests and anarchist groups. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

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