UK prime minister Liz Truss has agreed to convene with other European leaders on Thursday (October 6) at the first meeting of a new “club of nations” in Prague, Czechia.
The “club of nations” - known as the European Political Community [EPC] – was first proposed by French president Emmanuel Macron as a “new space” for co-operation that stretches beyond the confines of the EU.
The UK is among several non-EU member states to be invited to sit down with the EU’s 27 member countries to discuss issued such as energy and security.
Other non-EU member states invited include Ukraine, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, the Western Balkan nations, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
According to Downing Street, issues around energy security and migration would be raised by the UK, with Truss wanting the new forum to focus on “delivery” as opposed to being a “talking shop”.
Truss had previously been opposed to UK participation in such a forum as foreign secretary, preferring to focus on the G7 and NATO as the nation’s priority military and economic alliances.
However, a spokesperson for Number 10 said that the UK government had acknowledged there were now “unprecedented, shared challenges” with its European neighbours, that were largely “driven by (Russian president, Vladimir) Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine”.
The spokesperson continued: “The UK is resolved to work with international allies to find solutions - that includes working through NATO and the G7, as well as cooperation with governments in Europe.”
The UK has confirmed it is seeking assurances that the forum will not be dominated by EU institutions, while EU leaders have informed Brussels that the new EPC is not intended to replace the bloc’s enlargement policy and become a “parking lot” for potential members.
EU officials have further suggested that the EPC could convene twice annually, but it has not been confirmed as to how and where future meetings of the forum will eventually be held.
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