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Rome treaties anniversary meeting: EU 'will either be united, or will not be at all', says European Council President Donald Tusk | |
(35 minutes later) | |
European Council President Donald Tusk has warned that the EU “will either be united, or will not be at all”. | European Council President Donald Tusk has warned that the EU “will either be united, or will not be at all”. |
Without Theresa May, leaders from the other 27 EU members, were marking the union's 60th anniversary at an informal summit in Rome. | Without Theresa May, leaders from the other 27 EU members, were marking the union's 60th anniversary at an informal summit in Rome. |
Mr Tusk urged the bloc to come together following Britain’s planned departure. | Mr Tusk urged the bloc to come together following Britain’s planned departure. |
But the run-up to the celebrations had been tainted by bitter divisions among EU members, with both Poland and Greece threatening to refuse to sign a formal declaration of unity unless given concessions on key issues such as immigration and austerity. | But the run-up to the celebrations had been tainted by bitter divisions among EU members, with both Poland and Greece threatening to refuse to sign a formal declaration of unity unless given concessions on key issues such as immigration and austerity. |
Eventually they joined their fellow members in signing the Rome declaration, a success for a bloc that in recent years has appeared divided in the face of an influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa. | Eventually they joined their fellow members in signing the Rome declaration, a success for a bloc that in recent years has appeared divided in the face of an influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa. |
Mr Tusk told EU leaders: “Europe as a political entity will either be united, or will not be at all,” adding that ”only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe in relation to the rest of the world”. | |
He said: “Only a sovereign Europe guarantees independence for its nations, guarantees freedom for its citizens.“ | He said: “Only a sovereign Europe guarantees independence for its nations, guarantees freedom for its citizens.“ |
But while much of the language surrounding the Rome treaty related to unity, a principle of disagreement was central to the accord itself. | But while much of the language surrounding the Rome treaty related to unity, a principle of disagreement was central to the accord itself. |
The agreement will enshrine the idea of a multi-speed bloc, where some nations can move ahead while others stay on the sidelines on specific issues. | The agreement will enshrine the idea of a multi-speed bloc, where some nations can move ahead while others stay on the sidelines on specific issues. |
The declaration says: “We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction.” | The declaration says: “We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction.” |
The EU has often done this in practice in the past, with only 19 nations in the eurozone and not all members participating in the Schengen zone of borderless travel. | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to assuage fears that the multi-speed model would lead to a further unravelling of unity. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to assuage fears that the multi-speed model would lead to a further unravelling of unity. |
“The Europe of different speeds does not in any way mean that it is not a common Europe,” Ms Merkel said after the ceremony. “We are saying here very clearly that we want to go in a common direction. And there are things that are not negotiable,” she added, referring to the EU freedom of movement, goods, people and services. | |
In a series of speeches, EU leaders also acknowledged how the bloc had strayed into a complicated structure that had slowly lost touch with its citizens, compounded by the severe financial crisis that struck several EU nations over the past decade. | In a series of speeches, EU leaders also acknowledged how the bloc had strayed into a complicated structure that had slowly lost touch with its citizens, compounded by the severe financial crisis that struck several EU nations over the past decade. |
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the host of the summit, said over the past dozen years the EU's development had stalled. | Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the host of the summit, said over the past dozen years the EU's development had stalled. |
Theresa May's midweek deadline for Britain's triggering of Article 50, will launch the two-year countdown to Brexit. | Theresa May's midweek deadline for Britain's triggering of Article 50, will launch the two-year countdown to Brexit. |
In the UK, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday to demand plans for Brexit be reversed. | In the UK, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday to demand plans for Brexit be reversed. |
Campaigners said the march had been organised to make pro-EU voices heard and to condemn the Leave campaign, which they claim was based on lies and incited hatred. | Campaigners said the march had been organised to make pro-EU voices heard and to condemn the Leave campaign, which they claim was based on lies and incited hatred. |
Associated Press contributed to this report | Associated Press contributed to this report |
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