Trump, migration and Brexit to dominate EU leaders’ summit

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade and migration policies, as well as the post-Brexit union were set to dominate an informal summit of EU leaders in Malta on Friday (February 3), officially scheduled to discuss migration into the bloc from countries like Libya.

“Today we have pretty mixed feelings, honestly speaking, because the last steps we have seen, the tangible aspects of Mr. Trump’s politics are a little bit, are raising some concerns,” Austrian Chancellor, Christian Kern, told reporters on entering the venue.

Prime Minister Theresa May will brief other European Union leaders about her visit to meet Trump, including a reminder that EU states need to deliver on their NATO commitments to defence spending.

May’s embrace of Trump has galled Britain’s closest European Union allies, who fear London is tilting too heavily towards the new U.S. administration ahead of Brexit.

Kern said there could be benefits to be reaped from the divorce.

“(Brexit) could be a catalyst for a stronger Europe, for a more united Europe. And I think it is an alarm call, it makes sense to discuss extensively if we are on the right track. We are going to have the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty in March, and this is a good date to settle some of the open issues and we have a lot of open issues which is, tax policy, which is solidarity, which is migration. And so therefore perhaps we could reap some benefits from this development,” he said.

Asked if he felt threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker replied he was not.

“But I do think there is room for explanations, because sometimes I have the impression that the new administration does not know the European Union in detail, but in Europe details matter,” he added.

European Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini, highlighted the current differences in dealing with migration.

“Our way is cooperation and partnership. We do not believe in walls, and on bans. And we are committing even more today to working with all our partners in the region, especially our Arab friends, on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. We believe that things have to be managed together. This is the European way, the American way might become different today, this is not a European problem, this might be an American problem,” she said, adding that the EU will seek cooperation and friendship as always with the U.S.

European Union leaders will aim at endorsing plans they hope can prevent a new wave of migrants sailing for Italy from Africa.