European security and Ukraine will be the focus of discussions at the European Community Summit, which will be held on Friday in Tirana. Kosovo will be represented by President Vjosa Osmani. While in a document published by the Council of the European Union, Kosovo appears with a footnote without prejudging its status, in the Community’s document, Kosovo is not given an asterisk.
The sixth meeting of the European Political Community will gather leaders from across the old continent in Tirana on Friday to discuss the theme “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action.” Kosovo will be represented at this summit by President Vjosa Osmani.
“As in previous summits, President Osmani represents Kosovo at the next EPC summit, which will be held on Friday in Tirana,” confirmed Bekim Kupina, media advisor to President Osmani.
Based on the agenda published by the Council of the European Union, Kosovo appears with a footnote, according to which positions on status are not prejudiced and it is in accordance with UN Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo.
But in the document published by the European Political Community, Kosovo is presented without an asterisk.
47 heads of state and government and EU institutions are invited to participate in the sixth meeting of the European Political Community. The Secretaries General of NATO, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have also been invited.
Along with the President of the EU Council, Antonio Costa, the EU will also be represented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.
The summit will include opening and closing plenary sessions, with parallel thematic roundtables and bilateral meetings.
The focus of the discussions will be Ukraine and security in Europe.
“Leaders are expected to discuss European security, including support for Ukraine, European defense, preserving democracy, as well as preparedness and response capabilities to various threats. There will be a dialogue on improving the continent’s competitiveness through investment, innovation, and building resilience in several areas. The challenges of mobility, including migration, labor mobility, and youth mobility, will also be addressed,” the agenda reads.
The establishment of this Community occurred after the proposal of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, as a direct response to the war in Ukraine.
The purpose of the European Political Community is to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the continent’s leaders to address issues of common interest, with the aim of strengthening the security, stability and prosperity of Europe. This platform is not intended to replace any existing structure, organization or process, but is rather a forum in which European states can find further space for cooperation on the most pressing issues on the continent.
The community meets at the highest level twice a year, with its presidency rotating between the 27 European Union member states and 20 non-EU countries.
So far, five meetings of the European Political Community have been held.