On Friday 3 February, before lunch, 28 heads of government agreed a "Malta Declaration by the members of the European Council on the external aspects of migration: addressing the Central Mediterranean route".
After lunch President Tusk (also) gave some short remarks about the next part of the programme
As introduction to the summit Jorge Valero writes in EurActiv that the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty next month is unlikely to be celebrated with a landmark roadmap for future EU integration, as diverging views continue to undermine efforts to forge a common vision.
After this press conference, we will meet to discuss the future of the EU as Joseph Muscat has just mentioned with 27 States and our Rome meeting marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
But in fact we have started the discussion on the future of Europe already during our lunch. The developments on the international scene remind us of how important a strong EU is. Transatlantic co-operation remains an absolute priority because it has until now been a key pillar of the free world. At the same time we know that today we have no other option than to regain confidence in our own strength.Officially that is all we know about the afternnoon discussions so far. The media, however, have reported about uncertainty and disagreement. They can tell that (some) EU leaders are sceptical about PM May´s Atlantic bridge and (some) speek of possible multispeed future after Brexit.
As introduction to the summit Jorge Valero writes in EurActiv that the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty next month is unlikely to be celebrated with a landmark roadmap for future EU integration, as diverging views continue to undermine efforts to forge a common vision.
Small countries like Malta, Belgium, Luxembourg and southern EU member states, including Italy, Portugal and Spain, are the main backers of the integration process. On the opposite side, Poland, Hungary and others want to reopen EU treaties to repatriate powers to national governments. Britain, meanwhile, is on its way out.
In between, the Netherlands and a growing group of countries are championing a “pragmatic approach”, putting aside “romantic ideas” about Europe.
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Support for populists and Eurosceptic parties is picking up steam ahead of crucial elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany, throwing EU integration plans to the sidelines.
“This is not the moment for great forward-looking proposals,” a German diplomat said.
Berlin would accept postponing discussions about ‘ever closer union’, or even the refugee quotas so vigorously opposed by eastern member states for the sake of unity, he explained.
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People familiar with Jean-Claude Juncker’s thinking said the White Paper the Commission will publish in mid-March as a contribution to the Rome summit is unlikely to outline an ambitious, clear-cut vision for the future.
Instead, it will merely outline different scenarios for the future of Europe. The intention is to avoid polarising national governments that are reluctant to deepen cooperation in fields such as security, migration or the economic and monetary union.If the 27 EU leaders are unable to produce necessary reformes themselves, may be the Brexit negotiations will be helpful.
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