Merkel: ‘Don’t expect crisis solution from one summit’

16/9/2016

By Henry Foy

Angela Merkel warned one summit would not fix Europe’s ills as leaders met to discuss the future of a post-Brexit EU.

“We cannot expect a solution to the crisis in Europe from one summit. We are in a serious situation,” the German chancellor told reporters as she arrived at the meeting of 27 member states in Bratislava.

The summit was important to show Europe “can act on security and terrorism” while helping employment and protecting its borders, Ms Merkel added.

At the same time, Greek Prime minister Alexis Tsipras warned Europe “should not continue sleepwalking in the wrong direction.”

France’s Francois Hollande said Europe was facing “a test, Brexit, and a challenge, operating with 27 (member states).”

“Either it is dislocation, dissolution, or there is new impetus,” the French president warned. “We must produce a Bratislava plan, with three simple themes to restore Europeans’ trust in the EU: security, economic growth, the youth.”

Defence is one area where cooperation needs to be boosted, especially because the “US is distancing itself” from the EU, he said.

The French president, who has sent troops to Mali and aircraft to Iraq and Syria to bomb Isis targets, has been pushing for sharing the burden of military operations abroad.

“France is making the largest (military) efforts,” Mr Hollande said. “But it can’t be the only one. Every continent, or union needs to be able to properly defend itself.”

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