European Union leaders seek unity on 60th anniversary of founding treaty

Security measures were tight in Rome on Friday, a day before a summit to mark the 60th anniversary of the European Union (EU). Now others, beyond Britain with its divorce plans, are looking for more of a “living apart together” relationship.

When asked if she would be open to getting rid of the European Union, she said, “Yes, why not”.

European Union leaders have marked the 60th anniversary of the bloc’s founding treaty as a historical turning point, with the United Kingdom preparing to officially trigger divorce proceedings next week. Egypt’s efforts to achieve stability, prosperity, and sustainable social and economic growth are at the centre of the European Union engagement with our important neighbour on the other side of the Mediterranean.

“I found the signing ceremony here to be in many ways realistic about what we wanted to set out to do here, to reflect on the past, to consider where we are and to look at the future”, the Taoiseach said afterwards.

The EU’s Rome summit, while vowing unity, could instead be a watershed moment in moving away from it and toward a more practical road of partial alliances on certain issues.

European Union heads of state and government are planning to meet with Pope Francis in Rome on 24 March, ahead of the summit expected to provide a vision for the future of the European Union after Brexit, diplomats told EURACTIV.com.

Tusk said that “only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe in relation to the rest of the world”.

Europe must recover the memories and lessons of past tragedies in order to confront the challenges Europeans face today that seek to divide rather than unite humanity, Pope Francis has said.

As thousands of supporters and opponents of the EU gathered on the street of the Eternal City, Tusk said he wanted to make everybody aware that “the European Union is not about slogans, it is not about procedures, it is not about regulations”. One prime minister – Theresa May – will not attend because she is expected to hit the Brexit button four days later.

On Saturday, the main ceremony will be held in the newly restored hall of the Capitoline Museum, where the Treaty of Rome was signed on March 25, 1957.

European Council President Donald Tusk has said on the 60th anniversary of the bloc’s founding treaty that continued unity for the 27 nations remaining following the planned departure of Britain is the only way to ensure the bloc’s survival. United, we will achieve more for our people and the world at large. It is the crux of a strong European future together. He condemned anti-immigrant populism and extremism that he said posed a mortal threat to the bloc.

A safe and secure Europe: a Union where all citizens feel safe and can move freely, where our external borders are secured, with an efficient, responsible and sustainable migration policy, respecting worldwide norms; a Europe determined to fight terrorism and organised crime.

Leaders signed a declaration that is created to set out the path for European integration in the next 10 years.

“Let us not lose perspective”, he said. We have achieved a strong position by acting together with one voice on the global stage, by playing a key role in removing barriers to worldwide trade, as well as concluding bilateral trade deals with many important partners around the world, such as Egypt.

Free trade within the European Union has also opened up opportunities to develop a network of bilateral and regional trade agreements.

For instance, I am sending this strong message against any form of terror and terrorism from Somalia and show my unequivocal support to the people of United Kingdom while I live where terrorists kill innocent people nearly every day at their houses, place of worships, government offices and streets.