BRUSSELS — Economic growth was the mantra Thursday as European leaders gathered to sign off on measures to boost it around the continent. Yet expectations of a breakthrough on the explosive issue of pooling government debt seem to have fallen by the wayside.

European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn told reporters he expected leaders would agree on new growth measures, as well as on some kind of action to reduce borrowing rates for Spain and Italy, which are approaching unmanageable levels.

"I expect that there will be a decision on a further step toward rebuilding the economic and monetary union," Rehn said shortly before the summit was to start. "We also need concrete decisions on a short-term stabilization of financial markets, especially sovereign debt markets."