Leaders of 44 European countries will gather in Prague on Thursday (6 October) for the inaugural summit of the European Political Community (EPC), a new format searching for a purpose as multiple crises hit the continent.
As the Czech Presidency welcomes leaders in the Prague Castle, it remains unclear what the new organisation, a brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, will stand for and what it aims to achieve.
‘OSCE without Russia’
The six Western Balkan countries will be joined by those from the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Analysis: Truss’s ‘yes’ boosts Macron’s new European forum initiative
Most are already members of organisations such as the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe, which aims to uphold human rights and the rule of law, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), whose mandate includes arms control, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections.
But diplomats argue that especially the latter two have been ineffective in dealing with Russia, a member of this organisation, and some have described the ‘European Political Community’ as “OSCE without Russia”.
One EU diplomat said gathering so many leaders would send “a powerful signal” to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin of opposition to his war in Ukraine.
“We’ve seen messages from the EU, from NATO – now there will also be a message to Putin from 44 leaders on the continent,” the EU diplomat said.
“Since we don’t have a functioning forum to effectively deal with Wider Europe issues, let’s give this one a chance,” he added.
What’s at stake?
Leaders will start by meeting in Prague with a plenary session in the early afternoon before breaking up for roundtable discussions covering topics including peace and security, energy and climate, the economic situation, migration and mobility.
France has said it hopes to find opportunities for cooperation in protecting critical European infrastructure such as pipelines, cybersecurity and energy supplies.
Afterwards, leaders will have several hours to hold bilateral meetings before reconvening for a closing plenary session over dinner.
The European Council said there would be no joint statement at the end of the meeting to outline if leaders reached a consensus on the topics broached or the organisation’s future.
Some observers have raised concerns about the meeting being a ‘one-hit wonder’, with difficulties in creating a proper decision-making structure.
EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell, who also will be attending the summit, said with so many leaders meeting for half a day, it could only be “an initial exchange,” and there were still unresolved questions about the community’s ultimate goal.
Clarity was still needed on the EPC’s core rationale, the community’s final membership, its relationship with the EU, how it should take decisions and even whether it should have a budget of its own, Borrell said in a blog post.
EU officials said they expect the leaders to agree to hold a follow-up summit of the community in six months to one year in a country outside the EU27 bloc, with the UK and Moldova offering to host.
Acrimony looms
Alignment on Russia and Western sanctions could be the elephant in the room, though EU diplomats said it is unlikely there will be pressure exerted on those countries that remain on the fence.
Disagreements are also expected on other matters, with one diplomat saying on the eve of the gathering that “there will definitely be some hard, head-on exchanges.”
The escalation of decades-old hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, fuelling fears of a second war in Europe’s neighbourhood, could be one of them.
Leaders of both countries are expected to meet with Macron and the EU’s Charles Miche; for sideline talks.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be closely watched as EU members Greece and Cyprus could raise long-standing disputes with Ankara and tensions with Sweden and Finland over their NATO bids.
Those pushing to join the EU – Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and the Western Balkan six are expected to reiterate that the EU27 should not see the community as a replacement for the EU’s enlargement process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – currently overseeing a counter-offensive against Moscow’s forces – will connect via video link from Kyiv.
EU diplomats said Kyiv would be present with a large delegation headed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to garner more support from non-EU countries.
Meanwhile, for UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, it will be one of her first major trips since taking office.
Considering Britain’s independent path since Brexit, expect some tough talk from London on what the format is meant or not meant to be.
Several diplomats signalled that London wanted to change the name from “community” to “forum” to downgrade its importance.
Meanwhile, she could face a tricky ride from EU counterparts over UK efforts to renegotiate the post-Brexit trade deal for Northern Ireland.
The Prague Castle will host an informal EU summit on Friday.
[Edited by Georgi Gotev and Alice Taylor]
