(BRUSSELS) - The "real economy" is starting to suffer as the financial crisis takes hold, EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia warned Wednesday, calling for efforts to protect jobs and welfare in Europe.

"We need to start thinking how to better organise the whole economy because we are starting to suffer also in the real economy, in the non-financial sector of our economy," Almunia said as he arrived for an EU summit in Brussels largely dedicated to the global financial crisis.

"We need to take care of these problems: growth, jobs and work, for the welfare of citizens," he added.

He said the European leaders should confirm the emergency measures approved by eurozone nations on Sunday to provide a coordinated approach and united EU front on the crisis.

However after that, it is necessary "to continue pushing forward economic policies in a coordinated approach to sustain growth," he said.

Signs of recession are multiplying in Europe. Ireland is already there and the German economy, Europe's biggest, is on the edge of recession, according to German institutes.

Meanwhile Britain's unemployment rate jumped to an eight-year high of 5.7 percent in the three months to August, official data showed on Wednesday.

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