Tusk: EU summit to focus on US trade measures, Russia

BRUSSELS, March 20 (KUNA) -- The summit of European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday will focus on trade and the planned US tariffs, the economic situation in the EU, as well as Turkey and Russia.
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in his invitation letter to the EU leaders on Tuesday said in addition they will discuss Brexit and the euro area reforms in the Euro Summit formation of 19 Leaders.
On the planned US steel and aluminium tariffs, he said "we must prepare for all possible scenarios. As the world's biggest trading power, the EU's response will be responsible and reasonable." When it comes to Brexit, we will discuss how to approach the rest of the negotiations with the UK, including on our future relationship he noted.
On Russia, he said, following the Salisbury attack "we should not only express our full solidarity with the UK but also draw operational conclusions, as this incident poses a challenge to our shared security." "I therefore propose we strengthen our resilience to Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear-related risks, including through closer cooperation among the EU institutions, our States and NATOm" said Tusk.
The EU leaders will also review recent developments with Turkey, with a view to the high-level EU-Turkey meeting scheduled to take place in Varna, Bulgaria, on March 26. (end) nk.sd