October 6,2022

The leaders of 44 European countries are having talks in Prague, at a historic first meeting of a new political club of nations.

As he arrived, France’s Emmanuel Macron spoke of building a “common strategy” in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss joined leaders from the EU, Turkey, Norway and the Balkans, with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky expected via video link.

She made clear the summit was “not an EU construct or an EU alternative”.

However, her decision to take part could mark a new phase in the UK’s post-Brexit relations with Europe. Writing in The Times ahead of the summit, she said that, after Brexit, the UK should be involved in discussions that affected “the entire continent and all of us here at home

The idea of a broader European political community beyond the EU has been championed by Emmanuel Macron, who told reporters on Thursday it sent a “message of unity”. But there’s scepticism, even within the EU, about the new forum

The 44 leaders were discussing energy, migration and security, with a particular focus on the war in Ukraine.

In a blog, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that, in the wake of Russia’s invasion, there was a need to “rethink and reform the wider European order, beyond the work of the EU and Nato”, but he added that the summit would be no more than an initial exchange.

As well as the UK, non-EU members Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Western Balkan countries are among those taking part in the first gathering of the EPC.

What is this new community?

Critics see it as a vague regurgitation of old ideas and its exact role has yet to be made clear.

When he proposed the idea this year, President Macron said it would “offer a platform for political co-ordination” for countries both in the EU, and those not.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gave new impetus for co-operation amongst nations beyond the EU’s 27 member states

But the new EPC has no institutions or dedicated staff. That has led to questions about how any decisions would be implemented.

So it’s an unprecedented effort to bring leaders together from across the continent to discuss areas of shared interest. If it proves to be a success, it may continue to take place up to twice a year. If it’s a failure, it could fizzle out