On May 16, the leaders of Europe gather at Skanderbeg Square. Edi Rama, the host

-Botted on the Radio « Free Europe »-

On May 16, leaders from all over Europe will gather at Skanderbeg Square, in the center of Tirana, for the European Political Community Summit (KPE). The idea of ​​the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, in a direct response to the war in Ukraine, the KPE meets at the highest level twice a year, as its chair changes between the 27 European Union (EU) member countries and the 20 countries that are not part of the EU.

It is now Albania’s turn, and the event will be a culminating achievement for Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. In power since 2013, he is already one of the most experienced leaders, while the meeting will be held just five days after the parliamentary elections in the Western Balkans Republic, in which his Socialist Party again emerged.

Brussels highly praises Rama, while EU officials praise him for his diplomatic abilities and his sharpness. The reflection of this is the fact that Albania, within a year, has opened most of the chapters of EU membership negotiations as it is expected to open more by the end of this month.

What is the European political community?

KPE is not an EU body, nor is it a substitute for EU membership, as some countries aspire to join the EU are afraid. It is, in essence, forum for discussions that do not officially produce concrete results or final communiqué; It has no permanent place or secretariat.

While the media is trying to explain what exactly it is or what purpose it serves, given the fact that there are so many other European institutions (such as the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-OSCE to mention some), the leaders seem to enjoy the Summity of the KPE.

The reason behind this may be the fact that the KPE has a minimal official choreography compared to, for example, the summit of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) and EU Treaty, which follow strict protocols. Of course, there are opening ceremonies, there is plenary session and has shared photographs. The leaders are then divided into three thematic tables, which focus on security, competitiveness and migration.

Most of the one -day rally, however, will be devoted to various planned and spontaneous bilateral meetings, which can quickly be transformed into larger meetings if needed. The summit takes place without much assistant and accredited advisors, which enables many rapid diplomatic meetings and gatherings, with food and drinks in abundance. The rally offers « some freedom and creativity in their mostly structured lives », as one diplomat has said.

EU leaders invited to KPE summit

In the previous Summity of the KPE there were political attempts to bring the Armenian and Azerbaijan leader together in a table, in the company of the leaders of France and Germany, but such efforts are not expected this time, though they can never be excluded.

Who will come? So far, no one has rejected the invitation that has gone to all European countries, with the exception of Belarus, Russia and the Vatican. Participants will be the Presidents of the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, as well as the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte.

This will be the first multilateral meeting for the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, even if this is not confirmed until the last minute. Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is also expected to go, after being absent in some of the previous KPE summit.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has been invited to attend, as at the last summit in Budapest in November. EU diplomats are determined to emphasize that the meeting in Tirana is of the EU and not the EU, given that the latter pursues the policy of not engaging with senior Georgian officials, following the opposite parliamentary elections in Georgia last October. If Kobakhidze participates, it will be interesting to see how EU leaders will react.

Eyes by fico and vucic

Similarly, it will be interesting to see what will be the approach of the leaders towards the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, who attended the Moscow Day Parade on 9 May, standing alongside Vladimir Putin.

Fico is largely isolated at the EU level, although it is not expected to face any sanction or punishment after traveling to Moscow.

Brussels had warned Vucic not to go to Russia, stressing that, as an official EU membership candidate, Serbia had to pursue the bloc’s foreign policies. But it seems that even Vucic will not face any measure.

A senior EU official has confirmed, in a « Off-the-Record » conversation in front of the Summit in Tirana, that Serbia will remain a candidate country, and that there is no consensus among the EU member states to sanctions it.

The only consequence for Serbia will be the non -advantage on the path to EU membership, something that does not strongly lose weight, as the Balkan Republic has not opened any chapters of negotiations in the last four years.

A great week for NATO

On May 14, the chiefs of defense of the 32-member Military Alliance will gather in Brussels for their last meeting before the NATO summit in The Hague next month.

Support for Ukraine and NATO defense missions, operations and defense plans will be at the top of the agenda.

On the same day, but at the Turkish coastal resort, Antalya, Rutte will gather the foreign ministers of NATO countries for an informal two-day meeting. The rally is controversial, due to Turkey’s oppressive policies towards the opposition, especially the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Prepared by: Trim Haliti