BRUSSELS - Poland's prime minister says it is a good sign for the future that France and Central European countries want to seek consensus despite their differences on key issues.
Prime Minister Beata Szydlo offered her assessment at a European Union summit in Brussels on Friday. Earlier in the day, at her invitation, the so-called Visegrad Group of four central European countries held talks with French President Francois Macron.
In a recent interview, Macron accused some of them of betraying European values by refusing to support an EU refugee relocation program.
Szydlo described the talks as "good," but says Macron and the Visegrad Group differ in many areas. She stressed that the dialogue would continue.
On Macron's criticism, Szydlo said she asked him for better direct communication, free of "stereotypes."
Macron says he and the central European leaders "defined their points of disagreement" and talked frankly, but showed no sign of softening his criticism.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that British Prime Minister Theresa May's pledges not to immediately force out EU citizens are a "good start but not yet the breakthrough." (AP)