Bratislava to Hold Informal Meeting of EU Leaders in September

Bratislava to Hold Informal Meeting of EU Leaders in September

Brussels/Bratislava, June 28 (TASR correspondent) – European Council President Donald Tusk at the European Council summit in Brussels on Tuesday proposed holding an informal meeting of leaders of EU-member states in Bratislava in September to discuss the future direction of the EU, TASR learnt on the same day.

Tusk told journalists that the Union needs to re-evaluate the situation after last week’s referendum in the UK, in which voters approved Brexit.

Prime Minister Robert Fico – also present at the summit – welcomed the idea of an informal meeting, adding that he’d already proposed such a meeting during his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Holland earlier this month.

Fico pointed out that it would be a mistake to expect that a several-hour-long meeting of the 27 prime ministers and heads of states in Bratislava will find solutions for all EU issues.

“What is important for us, and now I’m speaking for the Slovak Republic, is the fact that Slovakia as the presiding country wants to take the initiative regarding the debate on the future of Europe,” he said.

Informal meetings are generally hosted by the country that holds the presidency of the EU Council. Slovakia will assume this role as of Friday (July 1).