Bratušek said after what the three said was the first but not the last meeting of this sort that "we are friendly countries which have shared interests both in the region and the EU as well as wider".

The trio announced that they would probably soon also meet in Slovenia and after that in Croatia, with Faymann saying that the "goal is the fight against unemployment, efforts for joint economic growth and a strong, democratic Europe".

They moreover backed the introduction of a tax on financial transactions and a banking union, more legal transparency and constraints for speculators among other things.

Growth can only be revived with bigger investments into education, said the Austrian chancellor, calling for a coordination of the initiatives of the three countries in Europe.

Bratušek said that Faymann can "give quite a few good pieces of advice" when it comes to fighting unemployment, especially among the young, as Austria has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates.

She mentioned Austria's dual education system, but noted that "these are more long-term solutions, while the joint project within the EU is the guarantee scheme confirmed at the last EU Council meeting".

Milanović on the other hand warned against blindly copying solution from other countries, as progress is secured by a series of factors, while he acknowledged that all sides can learn a lot from each other at such meetings.

Meanwhile, asked whether the meeting also touched on the Slovenia-opposed gas terminals, Bratušek said that she acquainted her colleagues with the situation but also that she felt she would be able to work things out with Italian PM Enrico Letta at Bled on 2 September and that the inclusion of other countries would not be necessary.