Leaders from 47 European countries will converge on the Albanian capital this week for the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC), a diplomatic forum born out of Europe’s quest for unity and resilience amid war, geopolitical tensions, and economic volatility.
The summit, scheduled for May 16 in Tirana’s central Skanderbeg Square, marks the EPC’s first gathering in the Western Balkans. It comes at a moment the continent faces renewed security threats from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, widening economic divides, and mounting migration pressures.
Held under the banner “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action,” the summit will be co-chaired by European Council President António Costa and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. It will feature plenary discussions and three high-level thematic roundtables on security and democracy, economic competitiveness, and migration and youth.
“For Albania, this summit is historic,” said Prime Minister Rama ahead of the event. “It reflects both our European vocation and a recognition that our region is now central to the future of Europe.”
Security and Democratic Resilience
The first roundtable will address Europe’s security architecture, with leaders expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine and explore measures to strengthen democratic resilience across the continent. Topics will include hybrid threats, foreign interference in democratic processes, and bolstering Europe’s collective defence capabilities.
“The war in Ukraine has transformed the European security debate,” said one EU diplomat familiar with the agenda. “There is now a broader consensus on the need for strategic autonomy and a more integrated response to threats.”
Competitiveness and Economic Security
A second roundtable will explore how Europe can strengthen its economic foundations through innovation, energy security, and digital infrastructure. With global supply chains under pressure and industrial competitiveness at stake, leaders are expected to discuss strategic autonomy and investments in critical technologies.
The conversation comes amid rising concerns over economic coercion, inflationary pressures, and the continent’s reliance on external markets for key inputs ranging from rare earths to semiconductors.
Mobility, Migration and Youth
A third session will tackle challenges around mobility and youth engagement, including legal migration, labour flows, brain drain, and the role of young people in shaping Europe’s future. The debate will also address the weaponization of migration by third countries and the need for stronger cooperation with transit and origin states.
“Europe’s demographic shifts require coordinated policies,” said a senior Albanian official involved in summit preparations. “We need both managed mobility and inclusive opportunities for youth—especially in the Western Balkans.”
A Platform for Political Dialogue
Conceived by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022, the European Political Community was designed to bridge the strategic divide between EU and non-EU European countries, providing a venue for dialogue outside the institutional confines of the European Union or NATO.
Unlike enlargement processes or formal defence treaties, the EPC is non-binding and informal. Its goal is to facilitate cooperation and dialogue among the 47 participating states—including EU27 members and partners from the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries, Türkiye, the UK, and EFTA nations.
“The EPC is not about bureaucracy—it’s about politics,” Macron said when proposing the platform in May 2022. “We need a space for democratic European nations to coordinate more closely on the big issues—security, energy, mobility, investment.”
Past Summits and Trajectory
Since its inception in October 2022 in Prague, the EPC has held five summits:
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Prague, Czech Republic (Oct 2022): Focused on unity in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the energy crisis;
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Bulboaca, Moldova (June 2023): Emphasized peace, energy resilience, and regional connectivity;
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Granada, Spain (Oct 2023): Centred on strategic autonomy and prosperity;
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Blenheim Palace, UK (July 2024): Tackled energy security, migration, and safeguarding democracy;
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Budapest, Hungary (Nov 2024): Addressed security, EU-US relations, irregular migration, and economic resilience.
The upcoming Tirana summit is widely seen as both symbolic and strategic. By convening in the Western Balkans, the EPC signals its intention to further integrate the region into Europe’s political and security framework.
Looking Ahead
The next EPC summit is scheduled for Denmark in autumn 2025. As Europe grapples with a reshaped global order, leaders hope that the Tirana gathering will cement the EPC’s relevance as a long-term platform for shared solutions.
“The EPC doesn’t replace the EU, NATO, or the OSCE,” said an EU official. “But it fills a space that was missing—a space for equal dialogue among all European partners.”
Albania, an EU candidate country and NATO member, sees hosting the summit as a sign of its growing diplomatic weight. For the region, the meeting could mark a turning point—moving from the periphery to the core of the European conversation.
The summit will take place in Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square, a symbolic location of Albania’s post-communist transformation. Surrounded by institutions of culture and government, the square will serve as both backdrop and metaphor for the continent’s search for unity, resilience, and common purpose.