European Political Community to hold 1st meeting in October

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – Leaders of EU members and 17 European countries, including Türkiye, will be invited to the first meeting of the European Political Community next month, an EU official said on Wednesday.

The first reunion of the European Political Community will take place in the Czech capital Prague on Oct. 6, the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Brussels-based reporters.

The Cabinet of European Council President Charles Michel and EU ambassadors held a meeting earlier on Wednesday to discuss the organization of the event.

Heads of state from the 27 EU member states and 17 European countries – Türkiye, the UK, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Moldova, Georgia – “should be invited” to the meeting, the source said.

Leaders are expected “to have a political discussion on strategic issues of common interest for the European continent,” such as Russia's war on Ukraine, the energy crisis and the economic situation, according to the official.

All leaders will participate in an opening session and a closing dinner, have bilateral talks and take part in smaller groups in roundtable discussions on various topics, such as security stability, energy, climate, mobility, and economy, the spokesperson said, adding: “Invitations will be sent out soon."

The events will be hosted be the Czech government that assumed the turning presidency of the Council of the European Union in July.

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed in May to set up the European Political Community to address common political and security challenges.