The meeting – held at the initiative of Chancellor Angela Merkel – will also be attended by the Prime Ministers of Latvia, Portugal, and Malta, as well as the President of Cyprus. It will focus on preparations for the upcoming informal Bratislava summit of 27 countries on the future of the European Union.
The format of the meeting – which brings leaders from different EU regions for consultations – reflects the need to listen more clearly to European citizens’ expectations.
After the British people voted in June to leave the EU, the 27-member community is determined to learn from Brexit lessons, identify the areas that need change and restructuring, overcome the crisis of confidence in Europe today, and counter the complex challenges of migration, terrorism, security, and economic growth.
