Leaders from 47 European countries and organizations convene in Tirana for a one-day summit focused on pressing security and defense challenges, with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine topping the agenda. The theme of the European Political Community (EPC) summit is “New Europe in a new world: unity – cooperation – joint action,” and discussions will also address improving the continent’s competitiveness and tackling unauthorized migration.
The EPC summit will serve as a platform for leaders to engage in bilateral meetings or small group discussions to deliberate on key security issues. The inaugural summit in Prague in 2022 facilitated rare talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders aimed at easing long-standing tensions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among the leaders invited to the summit. On the eve of the gathering, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined an opportunity to meet face-to-face with Zelenskyy in Turkey to discuss a potential ceasefire. Recently, Zelenskyy hosted a meeting in Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where they jointly called for a 30-day ceasefire.
In an invitation letter for the summit, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Council President António Costa emphasized that the repercussions of Russia’s aggression extend beyond Ukraine, straining security and testing the collective resilience of European nations.
The previous summit, hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, was dominated by discussions on the potential implications of Donald Trump’s reelection for European security. Following the May 11 parliamentary election, Rama’s governing Socialist Party secured a fourth term, viewing the summit as a significant point of pride and motivation for Albania’s long-term goal of joining the European Union.
The EPC, conceived by Macron and supported by former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, aims to enhance security and prosperity across Europe. However, critics argue that it may serve as a mechanism to slow down EU enlargement. The inaugural summit included the EU’s 27 member countries, aspiring partners in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as neighbors like the U.K. and Turkey, while Russia and Belarus were notably excluded from participation.
Looking ahead, the next EPC meeting is scheduled to take place in Denmark later this year, as European leaders continue to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape in response to ongoing challenges.
