A Bratislava summit within the comfort zone ?

While the UK is struggling to decide what "Brexit means Brexit" means, the EU is preparing for the informal Bratislava-summit 16 September. Informal because UK is not invited. At the meeting the leaders from 27 member states will continue their reflections on how to handle the Brexit-process and on the future of the EU.

As part of the preparations Council President Tusk and Chancellor Merkel have met with leaders from numerous member states. The result seems to be meager. No proposal for a future vision for EU is on the table, but some key issues have emerged.

According to EU Observer "protection" seems to be a common denominator among the 27, as well as a determination to show citizens that "this is not business as usual", that the EU is going to respond better to their concerns. EU after Bratislava must guarantee also social and economic protection. Another topic will be "economic security" - how the EU project itself in time of the globalisation.

The meeting in the Bratislava castle will be a brainstorming and a start of a process which will continue for months. Consensus on innovative or bold new ideas seems unlikely. EU Observer reported that "officials" say that European citizens looking for clear-cut answers on what to expect from the EU might be let down. The summit could end up as a "Christmas tree", on which the leaders attempt to hang all kinds of issues dear to them. 

Possible policy development at the Bratislava meeting seems to be more integreation, more Europe. The same old medicine which has produced a lot of problems for the Union. EU Observer can tell that

leaders will not discuss EU competencies, although officials admit some rebalancing might be needed among institutions and member states, something the countries of the Visegrad group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) have been calling for.

Also not on the table: Brexit. “It is a big question mark if Brexit will be discussed at all. If so, it will be a low profile discussion with leaders comparing notes on a their bilateral meetings with the new UK prime minister Theresa May,” said an EU official. “It is not possible to go into details at this point, since there is no clear idea from British side what they would like to see as outcome of negotiations,” the source said.

It seems that the Bratislava meeting will be policy development only within the leaders comfort zone. This is not surprising, but necessary EU reforms require more courage and determination.