To conclude, let me say that the Bratislava Roadmap will guide our actions when we meet during our regular European Councils meetings in October and December, and also in Valletta, and later in Rome for informal meetings.
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Europe is also divided on the economy, with thrice-bailed out Greece last week gathered mostly centre and centre-left southern European Union leaders in Athens to urge their northern counterparts to share more of the migrant burden and ease up on austerity.
European Union leaders and ministers were determined to put on a united front as the arrived in Bratislava, for the summit.
Defence cooperation, particularly in defence industries and procurement, is being strongly promoted by Italy, France and Germany, while for other states making their workforce feel more secure in the face of a globalising economy is the priority.
The issue has become a flashpoint in the Brexit debate and has caused friction within the UK Government as ministers weigh up how to maintain the benefits of the trading bloc while regaining full control of Britain’s borders – a goal deemed by May as essential to properly implement the referendum result.
It is the clearest indication yet when the two-year withdrawal process is likely to start Earlier May’s office said that Britain would not start the talks this year, citing the need for more preparations.
United Kingdom exit negotiations are expected to start in early 2017 and to last at least two years, with the United Kingdom retaining its full rights in the EU Council during that period.
European Union leaders are waiting to hear from May on what she wants and Tusk repeated the mantra that there could be “no negotiations before notification”. “At the same time, it is not possible for these negotiations to damage our interests”, the head of the executive European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told a news conference on Friday.
Mr Juncker said: “There is a clear interlink as we made clear at the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market – namely the free movement of workers and we are sticking to that position”. This will only happen if and when people realise that we are delivering on our promises through loyal cooperation between Member States and institutions.
The final statement from the summit, the Bratislava Statement, said that “although one country has chose to leave it, the European Union remains indispensable”.
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.
Prime minister May or her spokesperson has yet to confirm Tusk’s comments to the press.
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Concerning economic and social development, EU leaders will adopt decision on the extension of the European Fund for Strategic Investment in light of evaluation and review progress on the different Single Market strategies including Digital Single Market, Capital Markets Union, Energy Union. But, after the triggering of Article 50, he said that regular summits at 27 would be held. “We can either come out of this crisis weaker and conflicted, or stronger and more united”, Tusk wrote.
