Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Croatia Zoran Milanović

Good afternoon. Let me begin by thanking Prime Minister Milanović for his hospitality and welcoming me in Zagreb. Today, we had a very fruitful discussion about the policy challenges facing Europe in the coming months.

We talked at length about the ongoing migration crisis. We had a good exchange on what the European Union is already doing and how we can better and more effectively target our efforts. Especially on how to support front-line EU countries under the greatest migratory pressure. In two weeks the European Union's justice and home affairs ministers will meet in an emergency council to assess the situation on the ground and discuss the next steps. This will include Frontex, the EU border agency, the European Asylum Office, more work on our return policy, international cooperation as well as how to fight and prevent the trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Migration will also be on the agenda of the European Council in October. And later this autumn, European and African leaders will meet in Valletta to discuss cooperation with the countries of transit and origin. Likewise is a high-level conference on migration routes in the Western Balkans being organised. Migration is a shared European challenge, and therefore we need a common European answer in a spirit of unity, solidarity, and responsibility.

The migration crisis is not Europe's fault, but we need to do more at European level to respond. I look forward to Croatia's constructive collaboration, as we implement a European response.

We have gone through the agenda of the October European Council and discussed the economic situation and Greece, as well as the UK's future in the EU. In the next months we will need to take further steps to strengthen our Economic and Monetary Union. The 5 Presidents' Report has given a new impetus to the debate. We might have an opportunity to come back to this issue in October. In Greece, irrespective of the political situation, it is imperative that the new programme is implemented as agreed. As for the UK, we should consider British concerns, but only in a way which will be safe for all of Europe. We will come back to this in December.

We also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans and how the European Union can help the countries in the region on their path to greater stability and prosperity. I firmly believe that the enlargement perspective is still our strongest leverage to promote reforms and EU values. We will continue to do all we can to help the countries of the region on their European path. History has taught us that a stable Balkan is not only good for the people here in the Balkans but for all of Europe. Thank you.