ROME, March 25. /TASS/. The European leaders have pledged to strengthen the union and to give prompt response to new challenges - this is what they said in the declaration, signed by participants in the EU summit on the 60th anniversary of the Rome Declaration.
"We will make the European Union stronger and more resilient, through even greater unity and solidarity amongst us and the respect of common rules," reads the document signed by 27 country leaders and heads of the EU institutions. "Unity is both a necessity and our free choice. Taken individually, we would be side-lined by global dynamics. Standing together is our best chance to influence them, and to defend our common interests and values. We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction, as we have done in the past, in line with the Treaties and keeping the door open to those who want to join later. Our Union is undivided and indivisible."
"The European Union is facing unprecedented challenges, both global and domestic: regional conflicts, terrorism, growing migratory pressures, protectionism and social and economic inequalities," the declaration reads. "Together, we are determined to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world and to offer to our citizens both security and new opportunities."
"In the ten years to come we want a Union that is safe and secure, prosperous, competitive, sustainable and socially responsible, and with the will and capacity of playing a key role in the world and of shaping globalisation. We want a Union where citizens have new opportunities for cultural and social development and economic growth. We want a Union which remains open to those European countries that respect our values and are committed to promoting them," the document said.
This summit does not feature the United Kingdom, which in a referendum in 2016 decided to quit the Union. The Rome Declaration outlines basic directions for development of the European Union for next ten years.