6th European Political Community Summit
| 6th European Political Community Summit | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Albania |
| Date | 16 May 2025 |
| Motto | A New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action |
| Venue(s) | Skanderbeg Square |
| Cities | Tirana |
| Participants | 45 countries |
| Chair | Prime Minister of Albania |
| Follows | 5th |
| Precedes | 7th |
| Website | epctiranasummit.al |
The Sixth European Political Community Summit was a meeting of the European Political Community held on 16 May 2025 in Albania.[1][2]
Background
The European Political Community (EPC) was founded as an intergovernmental platform aimed at facilitating political and economic coordination among European states, with a principal objective on strengthening cooperation in areas such as security, economic stability, and democratic governance. The platform emerged in response to the increasing geopolitical instability heightened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2022. It was planned as a flexible, inclusive framework that would enable both EU members and non-EU members, including the United Kingdom, the Western Balkans, to engage in collaborative dialogue, without the requirement of EU membership.
Albania was announced as the host of the sixth summit of the European Political Community by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the closing press conference of the fourth summit held in the United Kingdom in July 2024.[3]
In December 2024, it was announced that the summit would take place on 16 May 2025.[4]
Aims
The summit is to focus on four strategic topics:[5]
- Democratic security and stability, with an emphasis on support for Ukraine and protection from foreign interference.
- Competitiveness and economic security, through innovation, energy transition and industrial sustainability.
- Migration, mobility and youth, addressing the challenges and potential of the young European generation in the digital age.
- European leadership in a new world, where a clearer vision and determination to act in the international arena are expected.
Schedule and agenda
The summit is to be held on Friday 16 May 2025. Three thematic round table meetings are to be held focusing on Europe’s security and democratic resilience; competitiveness and economic security; and mobility challenges and youth empowerment.[6]
The schedule and agenda was as follows:[7][5]
- 10:00: Arrivals and doorsteps
- 11:00: Opening ceremony
- 11:30: Family photo
- 11:45: First plenary session[8]
- 13:00: Official lunch
- 14:30: Thematic roundtables
- 15:45: Bilateral meetings between heads of delegations
- 17:30: Closing plenary session
- 18:30: Joint press conference with the prime ministers of Albania and Denmark[9]
Attendees
The summit is expected to be attended by the heads of state or government of the states participating in the European Political Community along with the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission and the president of the European Parliament.[10]
| Non-EU member | |
| Absent |
Invited delegates
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a resolution in March 2025 encouraging host countries to ensure that the Council of Europe systematically participates in future EPC summits.[11] The Secretaries-General of the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were invited to attend the summit.[7]
| Entity | Represented by | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Atlantic Treaty Organization | Mark Rutte | Secretary General | |
| Council of Europe | Alain Berset | Secretary General | |
| Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | Feridun Sinirlioğlu | Secretary-General | |
| United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus | Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya | Head | |
Outcomes
European Union–United Kingdom relations
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with EU leaders to finalise a reset of post-Brexit relations ahead of a EU–UK summit on 19 May in London; Both sides remain locked in discussions over fisheries, youth mobility or Erasmus+ membership, student access, and a new agrifood trade deal.[12] Meetings were held on the fringes of the summit with President Macron and Von de Leyen, though no immediate breakthroughs occurred, discussions continued at the first EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "Albania to host European Political Community summit for the first time in 2025 - Politics". 19 July 2024.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "Meeting of the European Political Community, 18 July 2024". European Council (EUCO). 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "European Political Community Summit to be Held in Tirana, Five Days After Albania's Parliamentary Elections". 9 December 2024.
- ^ a b "European Political Community Summit/Agenda of activities". 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Meeting of the European Political Community".
- ^ a b "Meeting of the European Political Community, Tirana, Albania, 16 May 2025" (PDF). 8 May 2025.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "EPC-Tirana".
- ^ "European leaders should bring the European Political Community and the Council of Europe closer together".
- ^ Bounds, Andy; Parker, George; Foster, Peter; Gross, Anna (14 May 2025). "Starmer set for final round of talks in Albania on EU-UK reset". Financial Times. Brussels; London. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ Maddox, David (16 May 2025). "Starmer in 11th hour Brexit reset talks with Macron and Ursula von der Leyen to secure crucial deal". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.