French President Francois Hollande said the “Bratislava roadmap” consists of three simple themes to help restore the confidence of citizens in the European project.
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Merkel said the bloc simply had to improve but her influence as leader of the EU’s biggest economy has been undermined by her unpopular decision to open Germany’s doors previous year to almost a million refugees.
He called for “new defence capabilities and forces that can be deployed outside Europe”.
But at the same time, Europe was ready to stand on its own two feet if need be, he said, apparently referring to remarks by US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that in a crisis the US-led alliance might think of its own interests first before its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitments.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia-European Union leaders are gathering here in a bid to overcome deep divisions over the future of Europe, in the first extended meeting of the 27 nations that will make up the EU after the United Kingdom leaves it.
Greeted by soldiers in bright blue uniforms and ceremonial plumes, the leaders held a first round of talks in the castle then lunched on a river cruise on a German-flagged boat down the Danube to informally discuss Brexit.
Hollande said Britain’s vote to divorce with the European Union had triggered a crisis that threatened bloc’s very existence and pressed on the 27 member states due in the Slovak capital to establish a calendar and road-map for reforms.
Boosting defence cooperation is a key issue for the leaders who hope it will give them something to rally around after deadly terror attacks in France and Belgium.
With May keeping other European Union leaders waiting before setting out Britain’s demands and starting negotiations, there will be little talk of Brexit at a summit prompted by the British vote.
The summit host, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, is one of a group of leaders in ex-communist central and eastern Europe who has led a vocal revolt against Brussels and Berlin over their willingness to take in refugees.
The EU, a bloc of 500 million people, has been under siege since the 2008 global financial crash threw millions out of work and austerity policies undercut its claim that it alone guaranteed a better economic future.
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The refugee emergency has been specifically divisive.
