"We are in a critical situation. So we must show with our steps that we can be better in sphere of security, internal and external security; fight against terrorism; cooperation in the defense sphere; that we can be better in the sphere of growth and [creating] workplaces; can agree on the digital agenda and digital markets; [can be better in the sphere of giving] hopes and chances to young people in Europe and that we of course we can deal with existing issues of protecting our external borders and fighting the roots of migration," Merkel said ahead of the EU summit in Bratislava.
The leaders of 27 EU member states are meeting on Friday in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava for the informal summit to push forward reforms within the bloc regarding the protection of external borders, the fight against terrorism and various economic and social issues. The summit will be the first EU leaders' meeting without the United Kingdom in 43 years following Britain's decision to leave the bloc.
The European Union is currently struggling to manage a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The EU border agency Frontex recorded more than 1.8 million illegal border crossings into the bloc in 2015.
