The European Political Community (EPG) has held its second meeting. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz engaged in discussions with the heads of state and government of 44 European countries. But what exactly is the EPG and what are its goals? Here are the key questions and answers:
What is the European Political Community? The European Political Community (EPG) is a platform for political coordination among European countries. The forum is open to all countries in Europe that share the values of the European Union.
The concept of the “European Political Community” was introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron during his speech at the closing event of the Conference on the Future of Europe on May 9, 2022, in the European Parliament.
The first EPG meeting took place on October 6, 2022, in Prague. In addition to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, 44 other heads of state and government participated.
Who are the members? The recent summit on June 1 invited not only the 27 EU countries but also EU accession candidates (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine), potential EU accession candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo), as well as Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also participated.
Why is this forum important? The recent Russian aggression demonstrates the necessity of a value-based and well-coordinated foreign policy for a geopolitically strong Europe. In order to achieve this, the EU needs to broaden its scope. The European Political Community now facilitates regular meetings among the heads of state and government of all European countries.
The EPG serves as an important platform for dialogue and cooperation between EU member states and countries that are not members of the European Union. Chancellor Scholz stated after the inaugural EPG meeting last October, “Here, all of Europe has come together on an equal footing to exchange views on important issues of our time: security, energy supply, climate, and the economy. And to expand cooperation. And those who are not often heard were also at the table. This, too, is a consequence of the turning point.”
What are the tasks and objectives of the European Political Community? The European Political Community (EPG) aims to promote political dialogue and cooperation in the interest of the entire European continent. Its goal is to strengthen security, stability, and prosperity across Europe.
The EPG does not replace existing organizations, structures, or processes, nor does it intend to create new ones at this stage. It is not a substitute for the EU accession process in particular.
When does the European Political Community meet? The forum will convene once or twice a year in the future. The Republic of Moldova hosted the second EPG summit on June 1, 2023. This summit built upon the foundation of the first EPG meeting held in Prague in October 2022. EPG summits will be organized alternately by each participating country, with the host alternating between an EU and a non-EU member state. This is the first EPG summit hosted by a non-EU country. Spain and the United Kingdom are the subsequent host countries.