Update 2 | European leaders expected in Malta next year to discuss 'new Europe idea'

European Council President Donald Tusk briefly visited Malta today to hold talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat ahead of the informal Bratislava summit which is set to focus on the United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union.

The informal summit will not include the UK.

The visit also comes ahead of Malta’s stint at the helm of the EU in January. On Twitter after the meeting, Muscat revealed that the 27 leaders will be meeting in Malta next year - during Malta's presidency of the council - "to increase momentum for idea of new Europe".

Agreed wt @eucopresident that #EU leaders will meet in #Malta beginning 2017 to increase momentum for new idea of #Europe -JM #MaltaSummit

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) September 12, 2016

He explained that in the meeting in Malta, the EU27 would start deciding how to go about implementing the conclusions reached during the Bratislava summit.

"I am extremely pleased that Malta will be part of this European re-birth process," Muscat said.

Tusk stated that the EU was facing a critical moment in its history as it sought to tackle challenges raised by migration, the Brexit result and the situation in the Ukraine.

“However, I am sure that Malta has the best people and is the best country to take on the presidency of the EU at this moment in time,” he said.

Muscat reiterated his belief that the EU needed to change, irrespective of the Brexit result, and that it would be difficult to find convergence among all member states.

“But I firmly believe Malta will prove to be an honest broker in the debate,” he said.