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The European Political Community has been launched. In an unprecedented format that shows the isolation of Vladimir Putin seven months after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, 44 leaders of the continent met this October 6 in the Czech Republic. Its participants consider it a great show of solidarity from a continent plunged into multiple crises, from the repercussions of the war on security, to an acute energy crisis.
Search for a new order without Russia. From Great Britain to Turkey, 44 leaders of the continent meet this Thursday, October 6, in Prague to achieve that goal. “It does not mean that we want to exclude Russia forever, but this Russia, that of President Vladimir Putin, does not have a seat,” said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
The summit of the European Union and its neighbors is the inaugural session of the European Political Community, a format devised by President Emmanuel Macron in May.
“It is above all a message of unity for our Europe,” explained the French leader. The president also spoke of his desire to build “strategic intimacy” between the countries present, whether or not they are members of the European Union.
And it is that the Prague meeting brings together the 27 countries of the bloc with 17 other European nations. Some of them are waiting to enter the EU, while the United Kingdom is the only one that has left it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak on his behalf from kyiv via videoconference.
A symbolic meeting for a continent mired in multiple crises
During the event, seven months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, British Prime Minister Liz Truss stressed the importance of presenting a “united European front” against “Putin’s brutality.”
In this sense, the family photo taken in the imposing Prague Castle was intended to demonstrate the solidarity that unites the continent at a time when Europe fears the effects of the energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine as winter approaches.
On this subject, Emmanuel Macron declared that his priority was to build more electricity connections in Europe and lower gas prices: “We share the same space. Often the same history. And we are destined to write our future together. I hope we will be able to to achieve common projects”.
A summit without a final declaration
Despite the atmosphere of unity, doubts were raised about the objectives and concrete actions of the forum. Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins thus said no decision was expected at the symbolic meeting, which the EU had portrayed as merely an “initial exchange” of ideas.
Indeed, the program of this first summit did not include a final declaration signed by all the participants.
Due to the size of the meeting, as well as its diversity and the traditional rivalries between many of its members, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to Greece and Turkey, this new structure raises several questions about its contours, its function and, above all, its durability.
The 27 countries of the European Union will meet on their own on Friday and tensions will center on how to limit gas prices to contain rising energy costs that are hurting the continent’s economic recovery.
With EFE, Reuters and AFP
