What is the European Political Community?
On 7 November 2022, the European Political Community (EPC) was launched at the first meeting of its participating member states in Prague, Czech Republic. The EPC is a new forum for political dialogue and cooperation between the 27 EU member states and 17 other European countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Turkey, and the Western Balkan countries.
The EPC was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2022 as a way to strengthen cooperation between European countries in the face of shared challenges, such as the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, and the climate crisis. The EPC is not intended to replace the EU, but rather to complement it and provide a platform for dialogue with non-EU countries.
The EPC is a non-binding forum, meaning that its decisions are not legally binding on member states. However, the EPC is expected to play an important role in shaping European policy on a range of issues, including security, energy, and migration.
Member States
The EPC has 44 member states:
- 27 EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden
- 17 non-EU countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom
Objectives
The EPC has three main objectives:
- To strengthen political dialogue and cooperation between European countries. The EPC will provide a platform for leaders from across Europe to discuss common challenges and coordinate their responses.
- To promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The EPC will support democratic values and institutions in all member states.
- To foster economic and social development in Europe. The EPC will promote economic growth, job creation, and social inclusion across the continent.
Structure
The EPC is structured around three main bodies:
- The European Council: The European Council is the highest decision-making body of the EPC. It is composed of the heads of state or government of all member states. The European Council meets twice a year to discuss major issues facing Europe.
- The Council of Ministers: The Council of Ministers is responsible for preparing and implementing the decisions of the European Council. It is composed of ministers from all member states. The Council of Ministers meets regularly to discuss a range of issues, including foreign affairs, security, and economic policy.
- The European Parliament: The European Parliament is the legislative body of the EPC. It is composed of members elected by the citizens of all member states. The European Parliament has the power to approve or reject legislation proposed by the Council of Ministers.
The first meeting
The first meeting of the EPC was held in Prague, Czech Republic, on 7 November 2022. The meeting was attended by the heads of state or government of all member states. The leaders discussed a range of issues, including the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, and the climate crisis. The leaders also agreed to establish a number of working groups to focus on specific areas of cooperation, such as security, energy, and migration.
The EPC is a new and important forum for political dialogue and cooperation between European countries. The EPC will play an important role in shaping European policy on a range of issues, including security, energy, and migration.
Was ist die Europäische Politische Gemeinschaft?
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