The European Union is in a “critical situation”, the German chancellor has said, as leaders meet in Slovakia to discuss ways to regain trust after the UK’s vote to leave the bloc.

Angela Merkel said they needed to show they could improve on security, defence co-operation and the economy.

But EU countries are deeply divided over how to bolster growth and respond to the influx of migrants.

Meeting in Bratislava without the UK, they will not discuss Brexit talks.

Even though Britain’s referendum result is not on the agenda, and British Prime Minister Theresa May is not attending the summit, there is little doubt that Brexit will overshadow the meeting.

Donald Tusk , the European Council President, is hoping for a public show of unity among the 27 nations of the EU following Britain’s vote to leave in June. He wants to restore EU stability and credibility with the bloc in the face of a migrant crisis and issues with the euro currency. But European leaders are divided, their voters skeptical.

Central and Eastern Europe want powers back from Brussels. Northern nations view the south as a eurozone liability. Mediterranean countries balk at German austerity edicts.

So today they will stick to subjects they agree on and those they feel are relevant to voters’ concerns: migration, security and globalization.

The hard stuff, such as a future trade deal with Britain and how to save the single currency, will be left for another day.

 

 

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