Europe

Tusk, Szydlo meet over EU future without Britain

Associated Press
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Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo greets European Council President Donald Tusk prior to talks on EU future after Britain leaves, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. Ahead of EU summit on Friday, Szydlo says EU needs deep, bold reforms. Relations between Szydlo, a conservative, and Tusk, Poland's former centrist prime minister, are tense. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo,right, shake hands with wldEuropean Council President Donald Tusk before talks on EU future after Britain leaves, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. Ahead of EU summit on Friday, Szydlo says EU needs deep, bold reforms. Relations between Szydlo, a conservative, and Tusk, Poland's former centrist prime minister, are tense. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, right, greets European Council President Donald Tusk before talks on EU future after Britain leaves, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. Ahead of EU summit on Friday, Szydlo says EU needs deep, bold reforms. Relations between Szydlo, a conservative, and Tusk, Poland's former centrist prime minister, are tense. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

A spokesman for Poland's prime minister says Beata Szydlo insisted on deep European Union reforms during her meeting with EU President Donald Tusk.

The meeting Tuesday was ahead of an informal EU summit without Britain on Friday in Bratislava, Slovakia. It will discuss the EU after Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc. Former Polish prime minister Tusk is sounding out opinions in EU capitals before the summit.

Poland and countries in central and eastern Europe insist on bold reforms, including changes to the EU treaty. They say the EU is authoritarian toward its member states and blame that for Britain's wanting to leave.

Szydlo's spokesman, Rafal Bochenek, said she told Tusk that in Bratislava Poland will be pushing for a green light for deep political and economic reforms.