By Penelope Galliou

In a fluid political environment, with Europe’s political evolution the subject of reflection and debate for most European leaders, the fourth European Political Community Summit is being convened today at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The host of the session will be the newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will have his first four -a four – as prime minister – with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakiswho will be in British County and attend the session.

A meeting on the sidelines of the work of the session, which – according to those in the know – is not expected to be limited only to the international developments regarding the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza or the Cyprus issue, but it is estimated that it will also extend to the burning issue for our country, of the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.

After all, when the former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled his last meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London, it was the then leader of the British opposition, Keir Starmer, who met with the Greek prime minister and they discussed the controversial issue of the Parthenon Sculptures. It is known, moreover, that the Labor Party has a different opinion from the hard stance of the Conservatives on the subject of the Sculptures.

Regarding the European Political Community Summit, to which heads of state and government from 47 countries have been invited, it will be concerned with the defense and safeguarding of democracy, energy and interconnectivity and immigration, issues that will be discussed in respective round tables.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will participate in a round table on the defense and safeguarding of democracy. On the same panel will be, among others, the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

The Summit of the European Political Community, which will take place on British soil, will be the first step of a European organization from which the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmera few days after his first international appearance at the NATO Summit in Washington, he will have the opportunity to address European leaders.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be absent from the Summit, as the crucial vote for her re-election to the office will be held at noon on Thursday in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The European Political Community and its objectives

The European Political Community (EPC) is a forum for political and strategic discussions on the future of Europe, founded in 2022. The conference was held for the first time in October 2022, with participants from 44 European countries, as well as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

The objective of the European Political Community is to provide a platform for policy coordination for European countries across the continent and to encourage political dialogue and cooperation to address issues of common concern to enhance the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent. , especially regarding the European energy crisis.

In addition to EU member states, the European Political Community also includes countries such as the United Kingdom, Iceland, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, among others.