First "Brexit summit" to demonstrate EU unity: Tusk

There is no doubt that the first "Brexit summit," during which European Union (EU) leaders are expected to adopt their "Brexit guidelines," on April 29 will be a show of unity, European Council President Donald Tusk said here on Monday.

Tusk made his confidence clear when meeting Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar in Ljubljana after the first feedback on his draft Brexit guidelines, according to the Slovenian Press Agency.

Tusk stressed the importance of unity among the 27 member states of the European Union (EU27) in the Brexit talks.

"Our most important asset is the unity of our member states," he added.

Tusk and Cerar agreed at their meeting on Monday, held as part of Tusk's working visit to Slovenia, that the EU27 should be united in the negotiations with Britain as it prepares to leave the bloc.

Cerar told the press after meeting Tusk that during the Brexit talks, protecting the interests of Slovenian citizens, especially those living in Britain, would be considered.

"What we want is that the United Kingdom remains an important partner of the EU as well as Slovenia," he said, adding he hoped Brexit would not change this.

He warned that the EU should not forget about other challenges and projects such as economic development, increasing employment, security, welfare, migration, and modernization of the EU.

Tusk and Cerar also talked about EU membership prospects of the Western Balkan countries and the migration crisis.