Summary Merkel, Hollande said Europe could only move forward after Britain's shock vote to leave
BRATISLAVA (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande pledged at an EU summit in Bratislava Friday to work together to make a "success" of the bloc after Brexit.
"Germany and France will very intensively play their part in the coming months in order to make all this a success," Merkel said at a rare joint press conference with Hollande after 27 EU leaders met, without Britain, to discuss the bloc s future course.
Speaking after Merkel, Hollande said Europe could only move forward after Britain s shock vote to leave if it identified clear priorities that "meet the expectations of Europeans."
"France and Germany will continue to work so that we can deliver concrete measures," Hollande said.
The pair said the leaders had agreed in Bratislava on a roadmap for measures in defence, security and the economy that would eventually be approved at a meeting in Rome in March to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU s founding treaties.
France and Germany produced a joint defence plan in the run-up to the summit.
