Lithuanian and Latvian leaders discuss EU situation with Merkel

  • 2016-09-11
  • BNS/TBT Staff

RIGA/VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis are in Berlin today to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders from Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus for preparatory talks before next week's EU summit aimed at mapping out the region’s future post-Brexit.

The format of the talks in Berlin, suggested by Merkel, might be viewed an effort on the part of the chancellor to help different regions see eye-to-eye on various issues.

According to diplomats, EU leaders' talks have recently centered on the migration crisis and on fortifying internal security in the wake of Islamist attacks in Europe. Southern European nations are also pushing for greater consideration of abandoning austerity in order to boost the economy.

"The UK's vote has highlighted common problems such as Europe's security, terrorism issues, Europe's economic growth, unemployment issues, and migration. These are common issues that need to be dealt with," Grybauskaite told the media on Friday.

These matters were discussed during this week's visit by European Council President Donald Tusk to the Baltic States and are probable focal points of next week's meeting of leaders of 27 EU members in Bratislava.

Grybauskaite stated that EU leaders hope to agree on concrete strategic decisions before next March, when the EU will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of its founding document, the Treaty of Rome.