French President Francois Hollande said Europe was faced with a risk of “fragmentation and division”, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalled that the EU had been born from some of the “darkest moments” of European history. “Ideal values and concrete commitments”, Renzi said.
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Hollande stressed the need to protect the European Union from militant violence by tightening borders and sharing intelligence.
Importantly, the German chancellor Angela Merkel, whose government published a white paper advocating new pan-European military command structures after Brexit, has agreed that Europe must do “more for our internal and external security”.
The three leaders were speaking ahead of a working dinner aboard the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppi Garibaldi as the sun set over the Naples coast.
“Europe should have a framework of protection”.
Francois Hollande also made a point in the discussions, saying that they need to intensify the cooperation when it comes to defense, saying that Europe needs to be better defended, by protecting its borders more and by intensifying the exchange of information.
Britain has always blocked plans for a so-called “EU Army”, arguing that it would undermine North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the cornerstone of European defence and (we don’t say out loud) our influence in Washington and at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation conference table.
Renzi also called for greater economic stimulus measures to create jobs, especially for young people, and improve investment opportunities.
However, the leaders announced nothing substantial after the meeting.
He added “If the no [vote] wins I have already said what I will be doing”, having previously stated he would resign. That is aimed at ensuring that whatever emerges from the post-Brexit process “finds the widest possible acceptance in the member states and in the population”.
Described generously by the AP as “a symbolic bid to relaunch the European project following Britain’s decision to leave the EU”, it is in truth the desperate act of globalist politicians to pull an increasingly unpopular institution out of its death throes.
They also urged more cooperation on security and job creation and help for young Europeans in an effort to lay the groundwork for an informal summit on the future of the EU without the United Kingdom, on 16 September in Bratislava.
A total of 95,000 migrants arrived in Italy in the first seven months of July, the same number as over the same period of 2015, according to data issued by the European Union borders agency Frontex on 12 August. It follows an initial three-way huddle by Renzi, Merkel and Holland in Berlin in the days immediately following the June 23 British referendum.
Leaders of the European Union’s three biggest economies have held a meeting on an aircraft carrier off Italy to discuss the challenges facing the eurozone, particularly the UK’s decision to leave the 28-nation bloc.
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Charting a course is hard until Britain formally begins the exit process, probably next year, and lays out proposals for its future relationship with the EU.
