NAPLES, Italy The leaders of Germany, France and Italy will meet on Monday to discuss how to keep the European project together in the second set of talks between the premiers of the euro zone’s three largest economies since Britain’s shock vote to leave the bloc.
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Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande also promised new economic prospects to young people.
But speaking to reporters on the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier after the meeting, Mr Renzi said he wanted to “write a future chapter” focusing on common defence, security and economic growth – especially addressing youth unemployment.
The 27 countries that will remain in the European Union after Britain leaves must listen to each other carefully and avoid rushing into policy decisions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.
Altiero Spinelli, who is considered one of the founding fathers of the European Union, wrote a manifesto when imprisoned on the island during the Second World War by Benito Mussolini. “And that means we want a post-Brexit Europe, that has been hit in the heart by terrorism, to relaunch an ideal based on unity and peace, freedom and dreams, dialogue and identity”.
It first started as European Coal and Steel Community and the Economic European Community in 1958, formed of 6 states as founding members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxemburg, the Low Countries and West Germany.
The French president, however, warned that Europe was faced with a risk of “fragmentation and division” and that there is an urgent need for improved security.
“If you’re member of a club you have certain benefits, but if you’re out, you will not have the benefits any more”, said Mr Fuchs, a deputy leader of Ms Merkel’s grouping in the German parliament.
Mr Renzi said 102,000 migrants had reached Italian shores so far in 2016, compared to 105,000 at this point a year ago, and said help must still be available “to those who really need it”.
Earlier the three leaders laid a wreath on the tomb of the Italian intellectual Altiero Spinelli, who is seen as one of the fathers of European unity.
Italy is eager for greater European consolidation in the wake of Brexit, but Merkel is more concerned about preserving the integrity of the eventual 27-member bloc. Mrs Merkel is said to be more sympathetic to Britain’s need for time. They’ll hold a news conference and then have dinner on board the Garibaldi, seeking to shape where Europe goes from here and the EU’s negotiating stance toward the United Kingdom.
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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. Hollande, Merkel and Renzi tried to address Europe’s response to the migrant crisis and issues of security on the continent.
