European leaders gather in Tirana in search of creative solutions for Ukraine

Now it is Albania's turn, and the event will be a certain climax 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 parliamentary elections in the republic of the Western Balkans, in which his Socialist Party again emerged, follows Periscope.

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

What is the European Political Community?

The KEP is not an EU body, nor is it a substitute for EU membership, as some aspiring countries fear to join the EU. It is, in essence, the forum for discussions that do not officially produce concrete results or final communiqué; it has permanent place or secretariat.

While the media are trying to explain exactly what it is or which purpose it serves, considering the fact that so many other European institutions exist (such as the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe O) The SBE, just to mention some, leaders seem to like the CPE summits.

The reason behind this may be the fact that the KEP has minimal official choreography compared to, for example, the summits of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the EU, which follow strict protocols. Of course, there are opening ceremonies, a plenary session, and a common picture. The leaders are later divided into threematic tables, focusing on security, competitiveness, and migration.

Most of the day's single-day gathering, however, will be devoted to various planned and bilateral spontaneous meetings, which can soon be turned into larger meetings, if necessary. The summit is held without much assistance and accredited advisers, which allows many quick diplomatic meetings and gatherings, with abundant food and drink. The gathering offers “some sort of freedom and creativity in their mostly structured” life, as a diplomat put it.

EU leaders invited to KEP summit

There were political attempts at the former KEPs to do together at a table the leader of Armenia and Azerbaijani, in the company of France's and German leaders, but such efforts are never expected this time, though they can never be disfellowshipped.

Who's coming? So far, no one has refused the invitation to all European countries except Belarus, Russia and Vatican. Participants will be Council, Commission and European Parliament leaders, as will Secretary General NATO, Mark Rutte.

This will be the first multilatreal meeting for the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend, even if it is not confirmed until the last minute. Turkish leader Recep Tayip Erdogan is also expected to go, after missing on some of the KEP's previous summits.

Georgian Prime Minister Iraqi Kobakhidze has been invited to attend, as was the last summit in Budapest in November. EU diplomats are determined to stress meeting in Tirana The KEP, rather than the EU, takes into account that the latter follows the policy of non-angagement with senior Georgian officials, following controversial parliamentary elections in Georgia last October. If Kobakhidze participates, it would be interesting to see how EU leaders react.

Eyes from Fico and Vuciq

Similarly, it will be interesting to see what the approach of leaders will be to the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuciq, and Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico, who participated in the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9th, standing alongside Vladimir Putin.

Fico is largely isolated at the EU level, though he is not expected to face any sanctions or penalties following his trip to Moscow.

Brussels had warned Vucinqiqi not to go to Russia, stressing that, as an official candidate for EU membership, Serbia should follow the bloc's foreign policies. However, it seems that even Vucin will not face any measure.

A senior EU official has confirmed, in a conversation <x0off-the-record”, before the summit in Tirana, that Serbia will remain a candidate country, and that there is no consensus among EU member states on imposing sanctions on it.

The only consequence for Serbia will be non-progress on the road to EU membership, something that is of great weight, since the Balkan republic has not opened any negotiation chapters in the past four years.

A Big Week for NATO

On May 14th, the defence chiefs 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 for NATO missions, operations and defence plans will be at the helm of the agenda.

The same day, but in the Turkish coastal resort, Antalya, Rutte will gather the foreign ministers of NATO countries for an informal two-day meeting. The rally is controvers, due to Turkey's oppressive policies towards the opposition, especially the imprisonment of Istanbul's chairman, Ekrem Imamoglu, late. /REL/