Bratilslava summit - more than a nice boat trip ?

The European Council meeting in Bratislava on Friday 16 September, which included a boat trip on the Danube river, had participation from 27 member countries. The UK was not invited. But it is still a member of the EU, and since Concil desicions have to be unanimous, the meeting was considered as informal.

The objective of the meeting was "to diagnose together the present state of the European Union and discuss our common future." The leaders agreed on a set of principles called The Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap. At first glance the impression is that the EU has swept problems under the carpet, and deliberately avoided to deal with critical challenges the union faces. But a closer look seems at least partially to justify the Slovakian PM Fico´s characterization of the meeting as a success. 

The Declaration consists of some wellknown phrases, but also reflects the 27 participants wish to continue the cooperation within the EU. This is of course important. Despite problems and challenges, it seems that everyone of them wants to remain in the union. But Brexit and growing protests in many member countries shows that the support for the EU can not be taken for granted. And the Roadmap indicates that this development is starting to affect the thinking of the Union.

In the Roadmaps General diagnosis and objective they focus on 

Many common challenges ahead of us: people concerned by a perceived lack of control and fears related to migration, terrorism, and economic and social insecurity. Need to tackle these issues as a matter of priority over the coming months

which obviously people everywhere in the EU will agree are great challenges and where common solutions potentially can give everyone an added value. It is interesting to note that climate change is not mentioned at all. 

The General diagnosis and objective also focus the

Need to be clear about what the EU can do, and what is for the Member States to do, to make sure we can deliver on our promises

For each of the common challenges - Migartion and external borders, Internal and external security,  External Security and Defence, Economic and Social development, youth - the Roadmap sets Objective and Concrete measures. These are concrete where there is agreement among the 27, and vague where there is different views. Time will show whether compromises will be achieved. The text reflects how political pressure from political opponents in the member countries can have an effect on the policy development. E.g. is one of the Objectives for Migration and external borders

Never to allow return to uncontrolled flows of last year and further bring down number of irregular migrants

which is a far way from Chancellor Merkels open borders a year ago.

The Heads of the 27 will meet informally at the beginning of 2017 in Valletta. The March 2017 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties will bring together Heads in Rome and will be used to round off the process launched in Bratislava, and set out orientations for a common future together.