MADRID, March 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The British government has announced that the next meeting of the leaders of the European Political Community (EPC) will take place on July 18 at Blenheim Palace, in England, which will take over the baton of the semi-annual format whose last meeting took place in Granada last October.

Leaders from around 50 countries were summoned to attend the fourth CPE summit – after the Czech Republic, Moldova and Spain –. The British government has stressed in its statement that previous meetings aimed to “unite Europe” in the face of Russia’s “aggression” towards Ukraine and to confront common challenges such as energy security or immigration.

“This is an important forum for cooperation for all of Europe on issues that affect us all, that threaten our security and prosperity,” explained British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who firmly mentioned the need to provide “full support”. to Kyiv and stem “illegal migration.

However, the UK also called for taking advantage of the “flexibility” brought about by this format, as bilateral or other small group meetings might be held outside of the joint CPE debate, something that, for example, has happened in Granada. .with Sunak and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, opening a parallel debate on migration policy.

IN THE HUNGARIAN SEMESTER

The CPE emerged in 2022 at the proposal of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, with the aim of bringing together European Union countries and other partners who share an interest in the stability of the continent, in a context marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

To give a voice to all parties, a system was set up where the organization would rotate between EU member states and countries outside the bloc, in such a way that Britain would take over control from Spain and would pass it on to countries outside the bloc the. Hungary. .

However, on this occasion the British authorities have postponed the event beyond the first half of the year, so that it will finally be held in the semester that would theoretically suit Hungary – the candidate for the presidency of the EU Council –.

The place chosen, Blenheim Palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a figure London now wants to save as a symbol of the power of democracy in the face of authoritarian regimes like Vladimir Putin. .