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EU must face its major challenges: Lithuanian president

Xinhua, September 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The outcome of UK referendum revealed all of the EU's problems and became an evidence of people's lost trust in the bloc, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said Friday.

"Confronted with such challenges as unstable economic conditions, unemployment, the migration crisis, and terrorism, Europe is unable to deal with them quickly and effectively," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying in a statement during meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk.

According to the president, Brexit lessons have to be taken into account responsibly and the EU must respond to the expectations of its citizens.

The second priority for the EU is a growing and competitive economy, Grybauskaite stressed.

For this purpose, it is necessary to reduce long-standing unemployment, improve business climate, remove bureaucratic constraints, develop a digit economy, eradicate poverty and social exclusion, the head of state noted.

The meeting also focused on preparations for the EU-27 summit, which will be held next week in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Tusk did not release his statement after the meeting.

On Sept. 16, the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states will meet in Bratislava and continue a political reflection to give impetus to further reforms and to the development of an EU with 27 member states.

President Tusk intends to consult all EU leaders ahead of the Bratislava meeting, the European Council informed on its website.

Before coming to Vilnius, he met with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis in Riga on Thursday, also would meet with Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas on Friday after leaving Lithuania. Endit