European heads of state and government will gather in the United Kingdom on Thursday, July 18th, for the first large-scale European summit on British soil since Brexit, marking a significant moment four years after the UK departs from the European Union.
A total of 45 leaders are expected to attend. For the UK’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, this summit presents an opportunity to renew ties with the European Community and signal the UK’s return to the international stage.
While European parliamentarians debate in Brussels over Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second term as President of the European Commission, the heads of state are convening in Woodstock, near Oxford, for the 4th European Political Community (EPC) Summit. Key topics on the agenda include European security, democracy, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Following a state visit to Washington and his first NATO summit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues his high-stakes international diplomacy this week. At Blenheim Palace, located about a hundred kilometers from London, Starmer aims to demonstrate to the world that the UK is reasserting its presence on the international stage post-Brexit, reports Sara Menai, our correspondent in London.
The British Prime Minister has already committed to fostering closer ties with the European Union. On Thursday, Starmer is expected to emphasize the UK’s commitment to and continued support for Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky anticipated to attend the summit in the morning.
In addition to participating in the summit’s main discussions, Prime Minister Starmer will conduct a series of bilateral meetings, including one with French President Emmanuel Macron. For Starmer, these meetings will provide an opportunity to review and enhance cooperation between the EU, France, and the UK.
The EPC, conceived in October 2022 by Emmanuel Macron amidst the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, informally gathers the 27 EU members and other European countries to discuss security and stability issues. For the first time, leaders from NATO, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been invited to an EPC summit. This fourth summit follows previous meetings held in Prague (Czech Republic), Chisinau (Moldova), and Granada (Spain).
This summit not only aims to address pressing geopolitical issues but also serves as a pivotal moment for the UK to reconnect with its European neighbors and reinforce its role in global diplomacy.