On the eve of a Brussels summit the EU has reported a serious cyber attack on the European Commission.

The bloc’s chief diplomat Catherine Ashton’s department seems to have been particularly affected.

Concern over possible leaks of sensitive information has shut down external access to the institution’s e-mail.

The attack comes only hours before the start of a two-day meeting to discuss how to strengthen the euro zone’s bailout fund, particularly in the wake of political crisis in Portugal.

Libya is also high on the agenda – there is mixed support among the public over the military intervention as was shown in demonstrations earlier in the week.

The EU has recently slapped a fourth wave of sanctions on the Gaddafi regime.