Leaders of more than 40 European countries are holding historic talks for the first time in the Czech capital, Prague, as part of the European Political Group, a new grouping aimed at impeaching Russian President Vladimir Putin.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who launched the idea of the rally last May, said it “constitutes a message of the unity of Europe.”
Prime Minister Lise Terrass joined leaders from the European Union, Turkey, Norway and the Balkans, while the Ukrainian president spoke via video link.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed a “great innovation”, which he considered in turn good for “peace”, “security” and “economic development”. He said that all the countries who attended the summit knew that Russia’s war constituted a “brutal violation of the security and peace order that we have witnessed in Europe over recent decades.”
Leaders discussed energy, immigration, and security, with a particular focus on the war in Ukraine.
Officials said Liz Truss spoke of the need for stronger, more resilient economies and energy supplies, while emphasizing the need for freedom in order to succeed.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that in the wake of the Russian invasion, there was a need to “rethink and reform the broader European system, beyond the work of the EU and NATO,” but added that the summit would be little more than an initial exchange.
Besides the United Kingdom, non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and the Western Balkans are among those who participated in the first meeting of the European Political Group.
A “family portrait” in Prague’s majestic castle overlooking the Old Town aims to revive morale and show solidarity as Russian President Vladimir Putin brandishes once once more the use of nuclear weapons and the continent faces an unprecedented energy crisis.
On the agenda of this summit are working groups and a dinner, but no final statement for the participants.
picture released, EPA
President Macron leads the meetings within the framework of the new political bloc
What is the new group?
When he proposed the idea this year, President Macron said it would “provide a platform for political coordination” for countries, both in the European Union and those that are not.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine gave new impetus to cooperation among the 27 non-EU member states.
But the new “European political group” does not have full-time institutions or employees, which opens the door to the question of the mechanism for implementing its decisions.
The group is an unprecedented effort to bring together leaders from across the continent to discuss areas of common interest. If this summit proves successful, it may continue to convene twice a year. If it fails, it may simply vanish.
Charles Grant, director of the Center for European Reform, says the group may be a “modest” turning point in relations between the EU and Britain.
“One measure of success would be, can Serbia, Azerbaijan and Turkey be persuaded to lean a little more west and less toward Russia?” Grant adds.
Turkey spoke of a “balanced” approach to Russia and did not sign Western sanctions.
“When Macron first proposed it, the group was supposed to be a club with shared democratic values, but now it’s more than that,” Grant continued.
Unconfirmed identity
The new group is not a replacement for the G7, nor for NATO, nor is it a waiting room for the EU, nor is it an alternative to the institutions of the union, so its identity remains ambiguous.
The new formula raises questions regarding its role and especially its sustainability. Behind this grouping, latent differences and countries follow radically different paths toward the European Union, from Norway to Ukraine, Switzerland, Turkey, Britain, Moldova, Serbia and Azerbaijan.
What do the declared (impatient) candidates have in common with those who realize that the door is closed to them for too long, and the United Kingdom, which six years ago opted out of the European Union with great fanfare?
Will the “European Political Community” last for a long time, or will it join the long list of short-term projects on the continent such as the “European Confederation” proposed in 1989 by François Mitterrand?
Could it not become a waiting room for candidates to join the union forever?
France asserts that this idea constitutes a “complement”, not an “alternative” to the EU accession process.
The organizers hope to announce potential practical cooperation projects, particularly in the energy field.
After that, France hopes to hold a new meeting in the spring of 2023 with the announcement in Prague of the name of the next host country that will not be a member of the European Union, and it may be Moldova.
picture released, Getty Images
Liz Terrass and Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit
Franco-British cooperation
Prime Minister Lise Terrace and French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed their determination to provide “all necessary support to Ukraine as long as it takes to restore Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, to resist Russian aggression, and to hold Russia accountable for its actions.”
The two presidents affirmed the “strong and historic relations between their countries,” according to a joint statement following their meeting on the sidelines of the first summit of the European political group in Prague.
The statement said they also agreed to hold the next Anglo-French summit in 2023 in France to advance a renewed bilateral agenda.
“The energy transition and decoupling of Russian hydrocarbons are common challenges,” the statement said, adding that they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in particular in the energy field.