Bratislava, 16 September 2016
(OR. EN)
SN 73/16
The Bratislava Declaration
Today we meet in Bratislava at a critical time for our European project. The Bratislava Summit of
27 Member States has been devoted to diagnose together the present state of the European Union
and discuss our common future. We all agreed on the following general principles.
Although one country has decided to leave, the EU remains indispensable for the rest of us. In the
aftermath of the wars and deep divisions on our continent, the EU secured peace, democracy and
enabled our countries to prosper. Many countries and regions outside still only strive for such
achievements. We are determined to make a success of the EU with 27 Member States, building on
this joint history.
The EU is not perfect but it is the best instrument we have for addressing the new challenges we are
facing. We need the EU not only to guarantee peace and democracy but also the security of our
people. We need the EU to serve better their needs and wishes to live, study, work, move and
prosper freely across our continent and benefit from the rich European cultural heritage.
SN 73/16
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EN