Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and MEPs trace out a vision for the upcoming months, a crucial time to unite Europe,  bring greater security and digital advances.

Hope of a long-term vision from Slovak Presidency

We need a better discussion  on how to make the EU better 

The EU is for all citizens  and must be built and developed by them.

The outcome of the UK referendum  is confirmation of this.

One of the EU's key members  decided to leave.

Therefore we cannot only  focus on crisis management,

we have to offer our citizens  a long-term vision

of the functioning and architecture  of the EU. 

Dear colleagues, the EPP welcomes  the programme of the presidency.

It focuses on economic growth,  competitiveness, the digital single market,

the energy union and the big topic of  a security union on our European continent.

We are on your side when it comes  to implementing these points,

and we will regain the confidence  of European citizens

you delivered a balanced speech,  which is well received.

and to always keep in mind  that the cement holding the EU together

is not so much its history  but is primarily its values. 