In the current geopolitical landscape, a gathering with 27 leaders from the European Union and room for 17 additional neighboring states has materialized into a formal forum on the mainland. The European Political Community (EPC) began its journey in Prague on a Thursday, highlighting the visible isolation of two prominent absent figures: President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. Since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia has become increasingly sidelined. The European Council President, Charles Michel, expressed optimism that the 44 invited nations would participate, signaling a move toward a regular twice-yearly assembly intended to strengthen security, stability, and prosperity across Europe [citation: European Political Community overview].
The concept for this new dialogue space was proposed by the French President on May 9, a date that aligns with Europe Day, with Emmanuel Macron aiming to bring together countries not yet part of the EU to share perspectives. The initiative gained backing from other European leaders at the late June European summit, and the inaugural session convened this Thursday in what is referred to as the Spanish chamber of the Council of Europe. The setting near Prague Castle, once associated with Emperor II, showcased sculptures curated by Rudolf. The event drew 44 heads of state and government, including the 27 EU members (excluding Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen) plus Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom [citation: EPC participants list].
Orban and sanctions against Russia
While several bilateral tensions exist—Greece and Turkey, Serbia and Kosovo, Armenia and Azerbaijan—the only two neighboring leaders not invited were Putin and Lukashenko. The Belgian Prime Minister remarked that the continent’s unity is apparent when two countries are absent, underscoring the isolation of Moscow and Minsk. European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell framed the Prague gathering as a step toward a new order without Russia. He emphasized that this does not imply a lifetime exclusion, but that Putin’s Russia has no place in the envisioned framework for now. Hungary’s Viktor Orban, however, urged a reconsideration of Brussels’ sanctions policy, arguing that current measures have produced limited results even as a fresh sanctions package was approved [citation: Borrell remarks and Orban stance].
Not all states carry the same political weight or align on every issue, so the EPC meeting serves as a testbed for cooperation among 44 diverse nations. The hoped-for outcomes are preliminary, and a definitive declaration was not anticipated after the working session conducted through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via videoconference with four working groups focused on peace and security, energy, climate, and economic matters. The European Union’s evolving approach includes opportunities for bilateral talks between the Turkish President and the British Prime Minister to fortify the EPC’s long-term trajectory after months of disagreements and amid the biennial cadence of the summit [citation: EPC working groups and bilateral talks details].
“Build Intimacy”
A core aim is to project a message of unity and strategic affinity across Europe, extended to both EU members and non-members. The objective is to align on a common interpretation of the continent’s situation, to craft a shared strategy, and to avoid the divisions that have arisen in recent years. The organizer of the initiative, Emmanuel Macron, described the Prague gathering as a starting point for joint projects and a commitment to meeting every six months. The concept envisions a community of values that respects pluralism, democracy, human rights, and a rules-based international order as an initial test for ongoing cooperation among governments [citation: Macron remarks and EPC vision]. Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish president, also supported the initiative, while Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama urged not to wait for a new crisis to trigger similar discussions in the future [citation: Sánchez and Rama comments]. The Prague process thus stands as a practical experiment in intergovernmental collaboration that could shape European relations in the years ahead.