The European Union (EU) is preparing to invite 17 countries, including Turkey, to the “European Political Community” meeting at the leaders’ level during the EU Summit to be held in Czechia next month.
According to the information given by a senior EU official, the “European Political Community” meeting is planned before the informal EU Leaders’ Summit to be held in Prague on 6-7 October, hosted by the Czech EU Term President.
In addition to the 27 EU members, Turkey, the Western Balkan countries Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, England, Iceland, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan, are at the leader level. will be invited.
The main topics to be discussed at the meeting will be Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the energy crisis and the economic situation.
The first meeting of the European Political Community, previously proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, will be held in the afternoon and evening of 6 October on the margin of the EU Summit in Prague. The next day, EU leaders will meet at their summit meetings.
The European Political Community meeting on 6 October will begin with the opening session and will continue with roundtable discussions.
During the meetings, many topics such as security, stability, energy, climate, transportation and economy will be discussed. A closing dinner will be given at the end of the day where the leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks.
The idea of the European Political Community was brought to the agenda by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, at the EU Leaders’ Summit held in June. The EU administration said that the idea was accepted by the leaders.
Macron stated that Ukraine’s EU membership would take years and suggested that countries that share the same values with the EU, such as Ukraine, could unite under the umbrella of the “European Political Community” instead of becoming a member.
EU officials describe the European Political Community as an “inclusive process” owned by both the EU and third countries. It is emphasized that this is not a substitute for EU enlargement or EU policies.