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Slovakia has to point to what's ailing EU at Bratislava summit: PM

Xinhua, September 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The upcoming informal summit of 27 leaders of EU-member states scheduled for Sept. 16 in Bratislava has to name the diagnosis of the EU's maladies, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday.

Fico wants this meeting to be written in the history of EU summits.

"EU leaders will not meet in Brussels but in Bratislava after a long time. I want to send a message from Bratislava to entire Europe that 27 leaders know how to suggest attractive proposals," said Fico during Question Time in Parliament on Thursday.

Fico added that as many as 1,200 journalists have already got their accreditation for the summit.

"Every one thinks that the Bratislava summit will start something new," noted Fico.

Fico claimed that EU leaders will have to muster the courage to say that not everything in the EU is just fine but also to point to positive sides of this project.

"Politically binding conclusions aren't expected to be adopted. However, we have to clearly name what ails the EU, where we are now and that there are some things we haven't handled well. If this elementary degree of self-reflection won't happen, then further referendums and processes disintegrating the EU might emerge," warned Fico.

Fico said that the summit will deal, for instance, with the shape of the EU after Britain's departure, and with security in terms of the fight against terrorism as well as in social and economic terms.

The EU leaders should also discuss new investments, forms of communication and the global role of the EU, according to the prime minister. Endit