European Leaders Gather in Prague For Inaugural EPC Summit

-O. Adejo

Over 40 European leaders will convene in Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital, for the European Political Community’s (EPC) inaugural summit.

The meeting is anticipated to bring together leaders from 17 non-EU countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and others. Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s Prime Minister, is scheduled to attend the meeting in person, while Volodymyr Zelensky will participate via video conference call.

The forum’s goal is to improve collaboration among European countries outside of the European Union, and it has drawn governments from the Western Balkans and Eastern European regions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, European economic issues, climate change, and the energy crisis are among the primary subjects on the agenda.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated in his invitation that the war in Ukraine, which is affecting multiple fronts, made it imperative to establish the European Political Community with the goal of providing a platform for political coordination. However, the platform is not a replacement for any current organisation, structure, or procedure in Europe.

On Friday, the 27 EU countries are also expected to conduct talks with Ukraine, with an emphasis on the EU’s support for Ukraine and the effects of Russia’s war on the EU’s economy and energy markets.