Host K Starmer will have the opportunity to address all European leaders for the first time, after meeting some at the NATO summit in Washington, just days after taking office.
London, Thanasis Gavos
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is participating today in the fourth session of the European Political Community (EPC) in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
The summit will gather in the specially designed historic Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill, about 45 leaders of European countries to discuss the most pressing issues for the old continent.
For the first time, NATO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe will also participate in an EPC session. The president of the Commission will be absent Ursula von der Leyen, who claims her re-election and among others the presidents of Turkey and Cyprus.
In addition to two plenary sessions, special debates will be held on three topics: immigration, energy security and connectivity, and defending and safeguarding democracy.
The Greek prime minister will participate in the round table discussion on the defense of democracy, along with the president of the European Council Charles Michel and other leaders.
The previous three sessions of the EPC were held in the Czech Republic, Moldova and Spain.
Host Mr Starmer will have the chance to address all European leaders for the first time, after meeting some at a NATO summit in Washington just days after coming to power.
As the British Prime Minister stated, this meeting marks the beginning of the UK’s closer relationship with its European neighbours.
According to Downing Street, Sir Kiir will put immigration and border security at the heart of restarting London’s relationship with Europe. He will say that the scale of the challenges facing the continent means they can only be tackled collectively. “Dangerous small boat travel undermines our border security and puts lives at risk. Criminal gangs of traffickers make millions. We will work across Europe to tackle this problem at the source,” the British leader is expected to say.
It will commit to helping European partners to crack down on organized illegal immigration and smuggling gangs, through cooperation with Europol, Frontex and Member States.
Mr Starmer will point out that this year counts that 380,000 people have entered through illegal routes in the EU, an annual increase of 17%. 41% of these arrivals were by boat in the central Mediterranean, 26% via land crossings in the Balkans and 16% via the eastern Mediterranean.
As for Britain, the new government promises faster processing of asylum applications and repatriation decisions.
Mr Starmer will join the migration roundtable alongside leaders from Italy, Albania, Germany, Malta, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
