At the informal meeting of 27 heads of state or government held in Bratislava on Friday 16 September, Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, represented the Grand Duchy.
The meeting of the Heads of State or Government of the 27 EU Member States (minus Britain) was conducted under the chairmanship Donald Tusk, and focused on a reflection on the current state of the European Union (EU). They discussed the future of the EU and the guidelines that the it will take to strengthen citizens' trust and give new impetus to the pursuit of reforms and EU development in the 27 Member States.
The 27 representatives addressed the challenges of the European Union, which include irregular and uncontrolled migration, terrorism and fears about globalisation. They agreed that securing external EU borders, combatting terrorist threats and regaining control of globalisation are priority measures to regain the confidence of European citizens.
On irregular migration, Xavier Bettel said: "For Schengen (Agreement) to work properly, we need to control external borders and stem irregular migration," before adding: "It is essential to find a balance between the need for freedom and the need for security as well as between the need for openness and border protection." According to the Prime Minister, it will "better protect the external borders in compliance with our European values."
They considered the intensification of checks at external borders of the European Union as well as the development of an information and authorisation system to control travelers in advance.
On migration, it was felt that it is necessary to limit the number of illegal migrants, including strengthening the protection of the border between Bulgaria and Turkey and also by increasing the number of returns to third countries while defining a controlled migration policy. They also developed a roadmap outlining the steps to follow in economic and social development, employment, single market, digital strategy and investment.
About the intention of the UK to leave the European Union, the leaders reiterated that the negotiations will start only after the United Kingdom has invoked Article 50. "We have to maintain the best possible relations with the UK," said PM Bettel, but acknowledged "it will insist on maintaining the balance between rights and obligations as well as the inseparability of the four freedoms of the single market."
They agreed that, by next March, they would work out a vision for an attractive EU that citizens can trust and support.
Photo (above) © 2016 SIP
Photo (below) copyright sk ue 2016, (L-R): Donald Tusk, President of the European Council; Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg; Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovaia; Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the european Commission
