6th European Political Community Summit


The Sixth European Political Community Summit was a meeting of the European Political Community held on 16 May 2025 in Albania.

Background

The European Political Community was founded as an intergovernmental platform aimed at facilitating political and economic coordination among European states, with a principal objective on strengthening cooperation in areas such as security, economic stability, and democratic governance. The platform emerged in response to the increasing geopolitical instability heightened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2022. It was planned as a flexible, inclusive framework that would enable both EU members and non-EU members, including the United Kingdom, the Western Balkans, to engage in collaborative dialogue, without the requirement of EU membership.
Albania was announced as the host of the sixth summit of the European Political Community by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the closing press conference of the fourth summit held in the United Kingdom in July 2024.
In December 2024, it was announced that the summit would take place on 16 May 2025.

Aims

The summit is to focus on four strategic topics:
  • Democratic security and stability, with an emphasis on support for Ukraine and protection from foreign interference.
  • Competitiveness and economic security, through innovation, energy transition and industrial sustainability.
  • Migration, mobility and youth, addressing the challenges and potential of the young European generation in the digital age.
  • European leadership in a new world, where a clearer vision and determination to act in the international arena are expected.

    Schedule and agenda

The summit is to be held on Friday 16 May 2025. Three thematic round table meetings are to be held focusing on Europe’s security and democratic resilience; competitiveness and economic security; and mobility challenges and youth empowerment.
The schedule and agenda was as follows:
  • 10:00: Arrivals and doorsteps
  • 11:00: Opening ceremony
  • 11:30: Family photo
  • 11:45: First plenary session
  • 13:00: Official lunch
  • 14:30: Thematic roundtables
  • 15:45: Bilateral meetings between heads of delegations
  • 17:30: Closing plenary session
  • 18:30: Joint press conference with the prime ministers of Albania and Denmark

    Attendees

The summit was expected to be attended by the heads of state or government of the states participating in the European Political Community along with the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission and the president of the European Parliament.

Invited delegates

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a resolution in March 2025 encouraging host countries to ensure that the Council of Europe systematically participates in future EPC summits.
The Secretaries-General of the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were invited to attend the summit.

Outcomes

European Union–United Kingdom relations

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with EU leaders to finalise a reset of post-Brexit relations ahead of a EU–UK summit on 19 May in London; Both sides remain locked in discussions over fisheries, youth mobility or Erasmus+ membership, student access, and a new agrifood trade deal. Meetings were held on the fringes of the summit with President Macron and Von de Leyen, though no immediate breakthroughs occurred, discussions continued at the first EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025.