The European Political Community Summit, a new forum of leaders from 44 countries – EU Member States, the UK, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, and countries from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership – is discussing the stability, security and prosperity of the European continent. The talks are focusing on the war in Ukraine and energy challenges. In the context of the latter, the Prime Minister expressed his expectation that a new package of measures would be adopted at EU level but noted that it would first be necessary to agree whether the price cap on natural gas is understood in the same way by all Member States.

“We cannot look for unilateral solutions in any of these areas – we must always look for solutions that are common and also broader,” the Prime Minister stressed in his statement to the assembled media representatives before the start of the first summit of the European Political Community. He said the talks provided a good basis for the informal summit to follow on the two key areas of security and peace and energy policy.

In the context of the meeting, Prime Minister Golob, together with his Icelandic counterpart Katrín Jakobsdóttir, chaired one of the four round tables on the challenges in energy, climate change and the economy. In addition to the President of the European Commission, it was attended by leaders of the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Malta, North Macedonia and Albania. The leaders stressed the importance of cooperation and a rapid response to the situation. 

“Europe has the skills and the capacity to implement a common solution by the end of October that will keep our economy functioning and keep people warm this winter,” said the Prime Minister. He pointed out that while the situation was serious, there was enough time and, above all, enough knowledge to keep the economy vital in the future.

Thanks to decisive action and a healthy economy, Europe is now stronger and more united.

On the margins of the meetings, the Prime Minister is to hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Eduard Heger, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and his Benelux counterparts Alexandre de Croo, Xavier Bettel and Mark Rutte.

As the Prime Minister underlined after the talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, it was a constructive and friendly meeting. According to the Prime Minister, there is an awareness on both sides that the two countries are allies in the current situation. “Only common solutions and a united Europe can effectively support Ukraine in its fight against the aggression,” the Prime Minister stressed.

On Ukraine’s NATO membership application, Mr Golob pointed out that the process of joining NATO had been open for a long time but that it was necessary to find the right path and the right moment. “This path must be unanimously supported by all allies, and this is where I think the talks will go”, he said, adding that Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories may have brought global diplomacy to a turning point. “Perhaps even neutral or Russia-supporting countries will see that the annexation is irreversibly changing the structure of the international community,” he added, advocating a stepping up of diplomatic efforts in this area.