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Bratislava EU meeting: Bloc needs 'honest look at problems' says Tusk Bratislava EU meeting: Merkel says bloc in 'critical situation'
(35 minutes later)
European Council President Donald Tusk has called on EU leaders to take a "sober and brutally honest" look at the bloc's problems, in the wake of Britain's shock vote to leave the EU. The European Union is in a "critical situation", the German chancellor has said, as leaders meet in Slovakia to discuss ways to regain trust after the UK's vote to leave the bloc.
As they gather in Bratislava for a meeting without the UK, they will discuss ways to regain trust in the EU. Angela Merkel said they needed to show they could improve on security, defence co-operation and the economy.
The meeting is not due to discuss negotiations with Britain, but will look at the future as a bloc of 27. But EU countries are deeply divided over how to bolster growth and respond to the influx of migrants.
Officials say Mr Tusk views migration as the main issue to tackle. Meeting in Bratislava without the UK, they will not discuss Brexit talks.
Even though Britain's referendum result is not on the agenda, and the British Prime Minister Theresa May is not attending the summit, there is little doubt that Brexit will overshadow the meeting. "We need solutions for Europe and we are in a critical situation," Mrs Merkel said as she arrived at the gathering.
In a statement on the eve of the summit, Mr Tusk said it was true that Europe had been shaken "by all kinds of crises" recently, and could not act as if nothing was wrong. "You can't solve all Europe's problems in one summit. What we have to do is show in our deeds we can do things better in the realms of security and fighting terrorism, and in the field of defence."
"It's my feeling that the best motto for the Bratislava meeting is that we must not let these crises go to waste," he said. 'Brutally honest'
Instead, he said, the EU should make a "realistic diagnosis of the causes of Brexit". Even though Britain's referendum result is not on the agenda, and British Prime Minister Theresa May is not attending the summit, there is little doubt that Brexit will overshadow the meeting.
The Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite, said the bloc was facing "huge external challenges" and Brexit was one of them.
Heavy on symbolism, light on results: By Katya Adler, BBC News, SlovakiaHeavy on symbolism, light on results: By Katya Adler, BBC News, Slovakia
Donald Tusk is hoping for a public show of unity among the 27 nations of the EU following Britain's vote to leave in June.Donald Tusk is hoping for a public show of unity among the 27 nations of the EU following Britain's vote to leave in June.
Mr Tusk wants to restore EU stability and credibility with the bloc in the face of a migrant crisis and issues with the euro currency. But European leaders are divided, their voters sceptical.Mr Tusk wants to restore EU stability and credibility with the bloc in the face of a migrant crisis and issues with the euro currency. But European leaders are divided, their voters sceptical.
Central and Eastern Europe want powers back from Brussels. Northern nations view the south as a eurozone liability. Mediterranean countries balk at German austerity edicts.Central and Eastern Europe want powers back from Brussels. Northern nations view the south as a eurozone liability. Mediterranean countries balk at German austerity edicts.
So on Friday they will stick to subjects they agree on and those they feel are relevant to voters' concerns: migration, security and globalisation.So on Friday they will stick to subjects they agree on and those they feel are relevant to voters' concerns: migration, security and globalisation.
The hard stuff, such as a future trade deal with Britain and how to save the single currency, will be left for another day.The hard stuff, such as a future trade deal with Britain and how to save the single currency, will be left for another day.
Katya Adler: The EU's Bratislava bluesKatya Adler: The EU's Bratislava blues
The European Council leader called on EU leaders to assure citizens that they had "learned the lessons from Brexit", and that they were are able to "bring back stability and a sense of security". Earlier, Donald Tusk, the European Council President, called on EU leaders to assure citizens they had learned lessons from Brexit and were able to "bring back stability and a sense of security".
But EU countries are deeply divided over how to bolster the economy and the Eurozone, how to safeguard European security, and how to respond to an influx of migrants. He urged them to take a "sober and brutally honest" look at the bloc's problems.
The summit host, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, is one of a group of central and eastern European leaders who object to the EU migrant quota system which distributes migrants across the EU. The EU response to the influx of migrants is one of the most contentious points among members.
The summit host, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, is one of a group of central and eastern European leaders who object to the EU quota system which distributes migrants across the EU.
He has said Slovakia will not accept "one single Muslim migrant" and has mounted a legal challenge to the scheme.He has said Slovakia will not accept "one single Muslim migrant" and has mounted a legal challenge to the scheme.
On Tuesday, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn called for Hungary to be suspended or even expelled from the European Union because of its "massive violation" of fundamental EU values, specifically the government's treatment of refugees. On Tuesday, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn called for Hungary to be suspended or even expelled from the EU because of its "massive violation" of fundamental values, specifically the government's treatment of refugees.
For France, the priority is border security in the wake of a number of Islamic extremist attacks in the country.For France, the priority is border security in the wake of a number of Islamic extremist attacks in the country.
France and Germany have outlined plans to deepen European military co-operation, which were reinforced in the State of the Union address by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, in which he called for a European military headquarters.France and Germany have outlined plans to deepen European military co-operation, which were reinforced in the State of the Union address by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, in which he called for a European military headquarters.
Britain's departure from the EU removes one of the biggest obstacles to stronger EU defence in tandem with Nato. The UK's departure from the EU removes one of the biggest obstacles to stronger EU defence in tandem with Nato.
But the French President Francois Hollande also said Britain's vote to divorce with the EU had triggered a crisis that threatened the bloc's very existence.
"It's not just another crisis, it might be an existential crisis", he said on Thursday following a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris.
The one-day Bratislava meeting is set to be the first in a number of confidence-building meetings where a "roadmap" should be set up to culminate in a summit in March in the Italian capital Rome, when the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome will be celebrated.The one-day Bratislava meeting is set to be the first in a number of confidence-building meetings where a "roadmap" should be set up to culminate in a summit in March in the Italian capital Rome, when the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome will be celebrated.