DUBLIN – The ninth summit of the European Political Community brought together leaders from across the continent in Dublin under the general theme “Europe -strong, secure and connected”.
The summit was co-chaired by António Costa, President of the European Council, and Micheál Martin, Prime Minister of Ireland.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine, leaders discussed how to make the European continent more secure, more resilient and even more interconnected.
The summit took place ahead of the informal European Council on 13 November.
More than 40 heads of state and government took part in the meeting of the European Political Community.
The next meetings of the European Political Community will take place in Switzerland and Greece.
EPC is an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe, established in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
President Costa stressed that the European Political Community summits underline that the security of the European continent is inseparable from Ukraine’s security.
“We have to be very clear about the principles that must be respected for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine to be achieved. And with that peace, security in Europe to be restored”, he noted.
President of the European Council recalled Europe’s priorities in the ongoing negotiations – reaching a ceasefire, reestablishing navigation in the Black Sea, and creating the conditions for a peace agreement.
According to him, “so far, Russia continues to be focused on escalating the war”.
“It has yet to demonstrate that it prioritises peace over dominance. But, as the pace of diplomacy accelerates, it is important to recall that a lasting peace needs to be a just peace. And a just peace, a peace that allows for security in Europe to be restored, needs to be anchored in clear principles”, Costa remarked.
He underlined that “Ukraine is a sovereign nation like any other nation in Europe, it must remain free to choose its alliances and its partnerships”.
“Secondly, the future of European security cannot be discussed and decided without Europe. That is why the European Union, together with NATO and several European nations is playing its role in the ongoing diplomatic efforts. We are engaging as a team – side by side with our Ukrainian partners”, Costa concluded.
