EU's founding members call for collective decisions to face challenges

ROME, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- Foreign Ministers of Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg said Tuesday the European Union (EU) countries should abondon unilateral decisions undermining EU, as well as committing to visa-free Schengen treaty.
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said they wanted to send a message for Europe in the opposition direction of all messages "against Europe." He was speaking at a news conference following a meeting of the foreign ministers of the six countries, the EU's founding nations.
"We believe in the importance of the European structure, not only because of its exceptional results in achieving peace and growth in the continent over the past six decades, but for the future as well," he said.
He said Europe was experiencing its worst moments in six decades because of the influx of immigrants, terrorist threats, Britain's referendum on its EU membership coupled with financial and economic conditions.
"This combination of difficulties create doubts and crises, which threat the European project that was born six years ago," Gentiloni said.
He said they discussed the issue of immigration, which was the largest challenge facing the European institutions.
The foreign ministers, in a joint statement, voiced concern over challenges facing the European project.
They said people of the 28-member EU wanted to have peace, hope, dignity, freedom, democracy and rule of law in addition to co-existence. (end) mn.bs