European Union leaders have gathered in Bratislava for the first summit following the Brexit referendum.
ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Union leaders have gathered in Bratislava for the first summit following the Brexit referendum.
Officials have called for a frank and honest look at the problems facing the EU.
#BratislavaSummit -historic moment,need 2 show #EU unity,strong need 4 fresh start, #Bratislava roadmap,honest talks pic.twitter.com/cN4eWsj8rc
— Maroš Šefčovič (@MarosSefcovic) September 16, 2016
Following the British decision to jump ship unity is the buzz word in Bratislava.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico hosts the talks: “We all want to show unity and we all want to show that the EU is a unique project and we want to continue in this project. At the end of the day I hope that we will be ready to prepare a road-map of the most important topics we would like to deal in the next 6 months.”
Brexit is not on the menu and the leaders are due to discuss the future of the 27 member state union.
I'm in Bratislava where EU leaders are meeting for a 'brutally honest' discussion about the future post Brexit… pic.twitter.com/RB1gYTdCJ3
— Tamara Cohen (@tamcohen) September 16, 2016
The European Council President Donald Tusk believes that migration remains at the top of the agenda.
As well as the Brexit backdrop host Slovakia is a member of the Visegrad group, a vocal contingent opposing EU policies and calling for powers to be reeled back from Brussels and returned to national parliaments.
European Affairs Correspondent Sándor Zsiros is at the summit:
“The Brexit referendum result made it clear that the EU is in deep crisis. There is a big debate about the EU’s future direction. Some countries want more integration, while others like Poland and Hungary would like to take authority back from Brussels. This issue will generate a robust discussion at the summit, also on the agenda terrorism, the economy and migration. Sandor Zsiros, euronews, Bratislava.”