The Prime Minister will host leaders from across Europe at the
European Political Community meeting on Thursday 18 July.
Gathering to bring together around 50 leaders from across the
region to discuss shared challenges such as Ukraine and illegal
migration.
The leader-level meeting will be held at Blenheim Palace - the
birthplace of Winston Churchill.
The Prime Minister will host the European Political Community
meeting (EPC) on 18 July 2024, bringing together around 50
leaders from across Europe.
The EPC first met in October 2022, and this will be its fourth
meeting. The meeting provides an important opportunity for
countries across the continent to cooperate and discuss key
issues.
Previous EPC summits have been instrumental in uniting Europe
against Putin’s aggression, forging cooperation in Europe on
energy security and tackling immigration crime.
The UK-hosted meeting will come at an important moment in efforts
to galvanise support for Ukraine as fighting is expected to
intensify in the summer.
It will also focus on how to work together to grapple with the
huge challenge of illegal migration across the continent, and
other issues which countries may want to put on the agenda.
Prime Minister said:
“ I am delighted that the UK will host the next European
Political Community meeting at the historic Blenheim Palace. It
is an important forum for cooperation across the whole of Europe
on the issues that are affecting us all, threatening our security
and prosperity.
“From putting our full support behind Ukraine to stopping the
scourge of people smuggling and illegal migration, under the UK’s
leadership the meeting will bring together our European friends,
partners, and neighbours to address our shared challenges.”
The meeting will be held at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire – a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace and ancestral home
of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill who played a such
a central role in standing up to aggression and tyranny in
Europe. During the Second World War, Blenheim Palace was used by
MI5 after their headquarters was damaged in the Blitz.
The flexibility of the EPC format allows for progress on
discussions which effect the continent as a whole, but also time
for bilateral discussions or for groups of states to meet. The UK
will support that flexibility and will be consulting with
partners on their requirements in the coming period.
At the last meeting in Granada, the UK led discussions on AI and
illegal migration. In Moldova, the focus was on supporting the
host country in the face of Russian hybrid threats, as well
building energy resilience. While at the first EPC meeting in
Prague, talks centred around Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the
need for Europe to stand united against his aggression.
Notes to editors
•
Plans for media access and accreditation will be announced in due
course.
•
Previous Summits: Prague, Czechia (Sept 2022); Chisinau, Moldova
(June 2023) and Granada, Spain (Oct 2023)
