Attendees chat during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
TIRANA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit was held Friday in Tirana, capital of Albania, with around 50 national and regional leaders, as well as heads of European Union (EU) and international institutions attending to address shared security and economic challenges.
This is the first time the summit was held in the Western Balkans. Alongside EU member states, countries like the United Kingdom (UK), Norway, Türkiye, Ukraine and Western Balkan countries also attended the summit.
Under the theme "New Europe in a new world: unity - cooperation - joint action", the summit features a plenary session and three high-level roundtables, focusing on European security, competitiveness, mobility challenges, and other issues. Key discussions include the Russia-Ukraine conflict, innovation, digital infrastructure, sustainable energy, and supply chain security.
European Council President Antonio Costa and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama co-chaired the meeting.
Rama called for a broader vision for EPC beyond defense. "Why not imagine an EPC of education, science, and artificial intelligence and transnational lines beyond weaponry? A terrain of interconnected sources of knowledge research and innovation, where NON-EU or not-Yet-EU territories can become new frontiers for investments, free from bureaucracy, regulations and fiscal burdens... " he said.
Costa emphasized Europe's role in defending multilateralism and global cooperation, while resisting protectionism, advocating for mutually beneficial cooperation over zero-sum thinking.
Launched in May 2022 at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, the EPC serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between EU and non-EU countries in Europe, aiming to strengthen political ties and tackle common challenges.
The next summit is scheduled to take place in Denmark in autumn 2025. ■
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (L) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
French President Emmanuel Macron (front) attends the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (L) talks with European Council President Antonio Costa during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (L) talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (front) attends the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (L) welcomes Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks to media during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)