EU plays happy family, poses for a shot without UK

NATION leaders in the European Union (EU) appeared to play happy families today when they posed for a group shot - the first without the UK - during the Bratislava Summit.     

   

                               

Putting on a united front, despite a disastrous few months for the crumbling bloc, all 27 members posed side by side before boarding a luxury ship to sail along the River Danube.

The EU leaders are in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava to discuss the future of the beleagured bloc in the wake of the UK's sensational Leave vote, the eurozone crisis and escalating migrant chaos.

The bureaucrats appeared in good spirits after enjoying a lunch on the MS Regina Danubia, a 70-metre luxury ship, which is sometimes decked out in Swarovski crystals.

The image marks the first since Britain sensationally turned its back on the failing EU following an In/Out referendum in June.

Even though Prime Minster Theresa May will not attend the meeting in Bratislava, there was little doubt that Brexit would overshadow the summit as EU bigwigs scramble to regain trust in the 27-member superstate.

Ahead of the Summit, EU Council President Donald Tusk called for Brussels bosses to take a "sober and brutally honest" look at the bloc's problems in a statment.

Leading Brussels bureacrat Martin Schluz also waded in, warning Britain to respect EU principles or face tough consequences in the wake of Brexit.

The the EU president snivelled that Britain could not get its way with access to the single market, without accepting freedom of movement rules in the aftermath of the nation's momentous Leave vote.