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Ordinary voters who had gathered to listen to two top European figures speak in Rome gave a less than confidence-inspiring verdict when unexpectedly quizzed on their own opinions.

The toe-curling moment was captured on camera at a presentation by Malta prime minister Joseph Muscat and top eurocrat Federica Mogherini to kick-start this weekends crucial summit in the Italian capital.

It began with the pair speaking openly about the challenges facing Europe, including Brexit, but also strongly insisting that the bloc had the capability to emerged from a dark period stronger.

Moderator Antonio Di Bella, director of the Italian TV network Rai News, then decided to get the crowd involved by asking them what they thought the future of the EU holds.

He said: There is a break the ice question. Could you please raise your hands and tell us whether you feel that your voice in Europe is heard sufficiently? Who feels that your voice is being heard in Europe?

The self-avowed EU supporter could not contain his surprise - apparently at the lack of reaction from the public - as he glanced around the room, pulling a disbelieving face.

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Giving a nervous laugh, he pressed on: Some feel that it is being heard, your voice. Then you also have, do you think that the EU will offer a solution to the major questions that will influence the future of our continent?

At this point the camera panned out onto the crowd indicating, embarrassingly, that more people may have raised their hands to answer no rather than yes.

And only a smattering of people got involved at all, with most sitting in stony silence and refusing to participate in the public litmus test of support for the project.

Mr Di Bella then swiftly moved on, after chuckling: I see that there are more or less abstentions, so we can maybe bring them over to our own side and convince them.

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During the debate the trio discussed how the European Union can progress and win back citizens trust after Brexit despite facing a multitude of crises from migration to the eurozone.

Mr Muscat said that Britain and the EU would still remain incredibly close even after the UK leaves the bloc, saying the reaction to the terror attack in London shows how the continent is intertwined.

He said: I feel that what happened in London and the global reaction especially the European reaction proves that there cant be Brexit in terms of solidarity.

Whatever may happen between countries and institutions in the forthcoming months there is an insoluble bond and unity which links European citizens.

This is a clear proof of the fact that Europe has a dimension which is prouder than the one represented by politicians.

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European Union - moment crowd at EU summit in Rome is asked ... - Express.co.uk

BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:54 A.M.) The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has called the European Union (EU) sons of bitches after calling for the hard line leader to rethink his war on drugs.

During a speech to Chinese businessmen, he highlighted that he did not need the EU to talk about rehabilitation programs which he claimed did not stop drug addicts from committing crimes.

So were getting a relief now from our hardships because a lot of (Chinese) money is coming in. The EU, they communicated to us, and they want a health-based solution for the drugs. These sons of bitches, he said.

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They want us to build clinics, then instead of arresting, putting them in prisons, just like in other countries, you go there and if you want shabu, they will inject you and give you shabu and you go out, he said, referring to the methamphetamine used in the Philippines.

Our people will just go there and consume every chemical until kingdom come, until they are crazy who will answer for these?

His angry response came as the EU criticized the many extrajudicial killings occurnig in the Philippines.

The President then went onto praise China for its no-strings-attached loans and aid.

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Filipino President: The European Union are 'sons of bitches' - AMN Al-Masdar News (registration)

The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, has today renewed its strong support for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine, under its recently extended mandate, for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

This new funding of 3 million, under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, will provide timely and focused assistance to the OSCE, in the area of satellite imagery. "The use of satellite imagery allows for more in-depth monitoring of the situation in areas where regrettably monitors still do not have access to, and also for a more efficient deployment of monitors in general", said High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini. "This fresh support again underlines the European Union's strong commitment to the full respect of the Minsk agreements, which offer the best chance for moving towards a peaceful, sustainable solution to the conflict in Ukraine based on respect for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our determination to accompany and support the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission." Satellite imagery remains an essential planning and analytical tool, especially because it allows the Special Monitoring Mission to map wide areas which are inaccessible to its monitors and to report on infrastructure damage as well as on the presence and movement of people and equipment. As has been the case for previous support from the EU's Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), this funding will continue to be channelled via the European Union Satellite Centre which will procure the necessary imagery and provide analysis products to the OSCE, at the request of the latter. The activities will directly complement other, ongoing IcSP-financed actions to fund the operational costs of the monitors, as well as to enhance technological surveillance capabilities, including through the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, night vision cameras, sensors and other monitoring means. The European Union has been supporting the SMM from the beginning of the Mission's operations and continues to play an active part in ensuring that it is able to execute its tasks in the best possible way, including through the new funding announced today. The Special Monitoring Mission has played, and continues to play, an essential role in observing and reporting in an impartial and objective way on the situation in eastern Ukraine.

Background information

Since its inception in April 2014, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has received 30 million support from the EU's Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, allowing the SMM to expand and to develop its technical monitoring capabilities. The OSCE SMM mandate has recently been extended until March 2018.

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European Union provides further satellite imagery support to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine - Reliefweb

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European Union to Celebrate Its 60th Birthday Under a Cloud Wall Street Journal (subscription) For European Union leaders, Saturday's gathering in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of the bloc's founding treaty was to be an unvarnished celebration of a successful experiment to rebuild a continent scarred by two world wars. But Brexit, economic ...

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European Union to Celebrate Its 60th Birthday Under a Cloud - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

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Despite Britains impending Brexit, the German chancellor believes the EU will continue to thrive with more cooperation from member states.

When asked if she feared other countries would quit the bloc, Ms Merkel told the Passauer Neue Presse: "No. Individual member states of course have different ideas about how we shape the future, but the overall way forward is clear, more cooperation."

She added that defence, control of the EU's external borders, economic policy and the fight against Islamist militancy were areas for cooperation.

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Prime Minister Theresa May will next Wednesday launch a two-year countdown to Brexit.

But Ms Merkel said Mrs May's impending letter would not overshadow the EU's 60th anniversary summit.

She added: The work for the coming years will go in both directions: On the one hand, the exit negotiations with Britain, and on the other considerations about making the EU of 27 members fit for the future.

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The overall way forward is clear, more cooperation

Angela Merkel

Her comments come as talks on Turkeys accession to the European Union were suspended over concerns on its human rights and rules of law last year.

Turkey is planning an April 16 referendum on constitutional changes that would extend President Tayyip Erdogan's powers.

Earlier this month a European legal report called the proposed changes by Turkey a big setback for democracy.

But when asked about whether Turkeys negotiations to join the EU should be broken off, Ms Merkel said she would defer her answer until after the Islamic Republics referendum next month.

She said: "We should await the vote on the referendum in Turkey and everything else."

But the German leader said she had taken the report by the Venice Commission, a panel of legal experts at the Council of Europe, very seriously.

Turkey has rejected the report.

Speaking about her meeting with US President Donald Trump last week, Ms Merkel said she had stressed the importance of German investments on the American economy.

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German officials have said the stalled US-European trade deal known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is "on ice" but talks could be rekindled if there is US interest.

Ms Merkel added: Trade agreements should bring benefits to both sides, and we need to negotiate on that.

"Now we will see whether we can revive negotiations on our TTIP trade and investment agreement."

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Angela Merkel 'confident' NO MORE countries will ditch the European Union after Brexit - Express.co.uk