EU Meeting: Merkel Warns of Critical Condition, Hollande Tackles Defense
Local Editor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Friday that the European Union faces a "critical situation", as she arrived in Bratislava for a summit to chart a post-Brexit future.
"We are in a critical situation. We have to show with our actions that we can get better," Merkel told reporters.
Merkel said the bloc had to improve "in the domain of security, internal and external security, the fight against terrorism, the cooperation in the field of defense."
She added that the EU had to "get better in the issues of growth and jobs."
Twenty seven EU leaders are meeting -- without Britain -- to try to draw up a roadmap for the future after Britons voted in a June referendum to leave the bloc.
For his part, French President Francois Hollande said Friday that his country can take the lead in European defense cooperation, but cannot do it all on its own.
"France is making the main effort on European defense but it cannot be alone and does not want to be alone," Hollande said as he went into the summit in Bratislava with security top of the agenda.
Hollande said France wanted to work with its partners to assure Europe's defense, in line with the alliances it has, namely with the United States in NATO.
But at the same time, Europe was ready to stand on its own two feet if need be, he said, apparently referring to remarks by US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that in a crisis the US-led alliance might think of its own interests first before its NATO commitments.
"Let everyone know that if the United States chooses to draw back, Europe must be able to defend itself," Hollande said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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