European Political Community Meeting in Tirana: European Dialogue, Balkan Hopes, and Future Limits
Mejreme Asllani | 19 June 2025
Summary
European Political Community (EPC) summit convened on 16 May 2025 in Tirana with European leaders to address critical issues including security, support for Ukraine, economic resilience, and mobility.
The EPC's first Western Balkans summit in Albania highlighted the region's growing European engagement and diplomatic importance, yet its lack of a dedicated panel for specific regional challenges affirmed concerns that the Western Balkans' role remains largely symbolic.
The EPC will likely remain a crucial diplomatic platform, however its informal structure limits immediate policy and it is unlikely that EPC will facilitate EU enlargement for the region.
The sixth meeting of the EPC brought together heads of state and government from 47 European countries, including all 27 EU member states, Western Balkan countries and other non-EU nations like Ukraine, the UK and Türkiye. Co-chaired by European Council President António Costa and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the summit was held under the motto of "New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action". This marked a significant moment as it was the first EPC meeting hosted in the Western Balkans, emphasising the region's growing role in broader European political discourse. The agenda centred on 3 high-level roundtables: Europe's security and democratic resilience, with a strong emphasis on support for Ukraine; competitiveness and economic security; and mobility challenges and youth empowerment.
The EPC, established in 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was initiated by the French President Emmanuel Macron as an intergovernmental platform to foster political and strategic dialogue among European states. It aims to strengthen cooperation in areas such as security, economic stability, and democratic governance, transcending the traditional boundaries of EU membership. Since its foundation, the EPC has held five meetings in various European locations, including Prague (October 2022), Moldova (June 2023), Spain (October 2023), the United Kingdom (July 2024), and Hungary (late 2024), before its sixth iteration in Tirana on 16 May 2025.
The summit provided a crucial platform for leaders to engage in open political dialogue and foster concrete cooperation amidst increasing geopolitical instability. A particular focus was given to Ukraine, and unsuccessful talks with Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, together with President Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a call with US President Donald Trump regarding the failed peace negotiations in Istanbul and a coordinated response towards Russia. From a regional perspective, hosting the EPC meeting in Tirana holds high importance, signaling Europe's increased attention to the Western Balkans amidst geopolitical shifts and global political uncertainties. This is a positive sign for the region's enlargement prospects for EU integration. Furthermore, Albania's successful hosting of significant international summits, including the Berlin Process Summit in 2023 and Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in 2024, reinforces its image as a capable nation, potentially positioning it as a mediator for dialogue and peace talks concerning Europe.
The Tirana summit’s ramifications extend in various directions. Politically, hosting the EPC meeting elevated Albania’s diplomatic standing and affirmed its European commitment. However, the lack of a dedicated high-level panel to the regions’ context highlighted the Western Balkans’ symbolic inclusion in the broader European political framework, rather than direct progress on their ongoing EU accession hurdles. Operationally, the EPC’s informal and flexible format, devoid of formal conclusions or a permanent secretariat, facilitates high-level exchanges and bilateral meetings that might otherwise be difficult to achieve within more rigid institutional frameworks like those in the EU. This allows for diverse participation, including countries like the UK, Turkey, and those in the Eastern Partnership, broadening the scope of European cooperation.
From a security perspective, the strong focus on Ukraine highlighted a shared concern for continental stability. Moreover, Merz emphasised the US’s pivotal role in European security. Discussions aimed at reinforcing Europe's collective defence and safeguarding democratic processes from foreign interference indicate a unified front against external threats. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended, discussing shared security concerns and the situation in the Western Balkans. Economically, discussions on competitiveness, energy resilience, digital infrastructure and critical supply chains reflect a joint effort to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy and reduce dependencies.
Nonetheless, the EPC’s non-binding nature raises concerns that immediate policy shifts, enlargement for the Western Balkans, or significant economic reforms are unlikely outcomes directly from these meetings. The absence of concrete deliverables, consistent with previous EPC summits implies its primary value lies in its role as a forum for political coordination to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape through dialogue and cooperation and signaling European unity rather than a direct policymaking body.
European Council
Forecast
Short-term (Now - 3 months)
It is likely that the Tirana EPC summit to lead to increased diplomatic engagement and continued high-level consultations among participating nations on security and economic resilience.
Medium-term (3-12 months)
The EPC will likely continue to serve as a flexible platform for addressing emerging European challenges, potentially fostering further alignment on foreign policy and security matters beyond formal EU structures and helping to shape the agenda for the upcoming meeting in Denmark.
Its informal nature will likely limit its ability to drive significant policy changes or accelerate EU enlargement, particularly for Western Balkan countries.
It is unlikely that EPC will directly facilitate EU enlargement.
Long-term (>1 year)
It is highly likely that the EPC will evolve into a more structured mechanism for pan-European cooperation, especially if traditional enlargement processes remain slow.
Alternatively, if a more structured body does not materialize, it is very likely that EPC to remain primarily a symbolic gathering, with substantive impact on policy or integration.
