Europe

Balkans summit in Paris: Migration, security, EU's future

Associated Press
Published | Updated

French President Francois Hollande waves as he stands beside UEFA vice-president Angel Villar Llona prior to the Euro 2016 quarterfinal soccer match between France and Iceland, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France, Sunday, July 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (The Associated Press)

France's President Francois Hollande, right, poses with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, prior to the Balkans summit, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Monday, July 4, 2016. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Balkan nations are meeting to better prevent extremists from sneaking in with migrants who are moving west across Europe. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (The Associated Press)

Delegations from the Balkans sit around a table around French President Francois Hollande, fourth from left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second from left, during the Balkan summit hosted by France at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday July 4, 2016. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Balkan nations are meeting to better prevent extremists from sneaking in with migrants who are moving west across Europe. (Etienne Laurent, Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Balkan nations are meeting to better prevent extremists from sneaking in with migrants who are moving west across Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will also discuss boosting opportunities for youths from countries that dream of joining the 28-nation European Union.

The meetings Monday of leaders, diplomats and finance ministers in Paris come amid questions over the EU's future after Britain voted to leave. Balkan nations that suffered through wars and political breakups in the 1990s worry that they will now face more hurdles to their membership bids as the EU struggles to stay together.

On top of the agenda is reinforcing security checks of migrants traversing the Balkans toward Western Europe.