Monday, August 22, 2016

EU leaders to discuss challenges to unity

The leaders of Italy, Germany and France will gather on a small island off Naples today to attempt to address the looming challenges to European unity posed by Britain's vote to leave the EU, the continuing migration crisis, and sluggish economic growth.



Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has chosen the island of Ventotene as a symbolic venue to host German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

It was on Ventotene that one of the founders of European unity is buried, having been held as a political prisoner there during World War II.

Altiero Spinelli, an Italian intellectual, wrote a manifesto on European unity while he was being held on the tiny island by the fascist authorities in 1941.

His vision later inspired the creation of what became the EU.

But that project, which has kept peace in Europe for 70 years, is being tested like never before.

Mr Renzi hopes the symbolism of the location will inject some urgency into the European project, with European governments still disorientated by the Brexit vote, and divided over how to confront a range of crises.

  • It will be the second meeting of the three leaders since the shock referendum result.

They are expected to lay the groundwork for an emergency summit of the rest of the EU leaders - minus Britain - in Bratislava next month.

  • They will also try to shore up public support for the EU by focusing on ways to boost investment, lower youth unemployment, and - once again - tackle the migration crisis.

France wants a doubling of EU investment, Italy wants more political integration, while Ms Merkel wants not more integration but a better focusing of Europe's existing strengths to counter the challenges that exist.

On Brexit, the rest of Europe is in a holding pattern until Britain decides to trigger Article 50 and formally leave.

But new Prime Minister Theresa May has shown no sign that she is in any rush.
 [rte.ie]
22/8/16

No comments :

Post a Comment

Only News

Featured Post

“The U.S. must stop supporting terrorists who are destroying Syria and her people" : US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard

US Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard, recently visited Syria, and even met with President Bashar Al-Assad. She also visited the recently libe...

Blog Widget by LinkWithin