The European Political Community (EPC) launched its fourth summit in the UK, bringing together leaders from some 45 European countries at Blenheim Palace.
The summit agenda includes critical discussions on Ukraine, energy, defence of democracy and illegal migration. Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, serves as the historic venue for the meeting.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will hold his first international meeting since taking office on 6 July, will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris on the sidelines of the summit. King Charles III will also reportedly attend with a reception for the summit participants, giving the event a royal atmosphere.
For the first time, representatives of NATO, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe will attend the event. Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Starmer stated that “Europe is at the forefront of some of the greatest challenges of our time.”
We cannot be spectators in this chapter of history. We must do more and go further, not just for the courageous Ukrainians on the frontlines or those being trafficked from country to country, but so our future generations look back with pride at what our continent achieved together.
Starmer, who has been a strong advocate of keeping the UK in the EU, promised to “change the way the UK engages with our European partners” to address these critical challenges. The EPC, set up in October 2022, has held previous summits on various pressing issues. At the last meeting in Granada, discussions were led by the UK on artificial intelligence and illegal migration.
