The goal is to agree on an agenda for the future of the EU post-Brexit, they stated, after preparatory talks in Paris.

At tomorrow’s EU leaders’ meeting in Bratislava the aim will be to produce an agenda, "that takes as its staring point the concerns, hopes and wishes of the people, and that is also realistic", said Chancellor Angela Merkel. What is needed is a plan "that we can then genuinely implement, because at the end of the day it is action that is going to convince the people of Europe most," added Angela Merkel.

Security and migration are priorities

The Bratislava agenda should "make it plain that we are determined to respond together to the weakness we see and to the challenges facing us," declared the Chancellor. Germany and France aim to accept responsibility and have the same priorities, she reported.

This applies to security within the EU and to external security. Europe faces a threat from terrorism and the challenges posed by migration. "We must be in a position to protect our external borders, and in this we must of course accept our common responsibility," reaffirmed the Chancellor.

The 27 heads of state and government of EU member states, the President of the European Commission (Jean-Claude Juncker) and the President of the European Council (Donald Tusk) will be attending the informal leaders’ meeting in Bratislava this Friday. British Prime Minister Theresa May will not be in Bratislava, where discussions will focus on the future of the EU following the British vote to leave (Brexit).

Future viability of the EU

In addition to security, said President François Hollande, the future viability of the EU and European values are the main priorities of the Bratislava meeting. Europe must develop new industries and technologies with respect to the shift to put energy consumption on a more sustainable footing and with respect to digitalisation, he added.

Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the pledge to deliver work and prosperity, which was one of the original pledges of the EU, must be regularly renewed. An agenda is thus needed to lay out "how we can incorporate digital change in our work, and how we can create the digital single market."

The Chancellor also pointed to cooperation in the field of energy and climate policy an a European field of action. "This is an area where we have the chance to be innovative." Everything will be done to have the Paris Climate Agreement signed as swiftly as possible.

Europe is a cosmopolitan continent

The Chancellor also cited the imperative of tackling youth unemployment as an "important component on which we aim to carry on working" – not least with a view to the young generation, Europe is a cosmopolitan continent which can present its achievements and its strengths to the world.