‘Beyond enlargement’: European Political Community and enlargement policy reform

The European Political Community (EPC) is a new 'platform for political coordination' (European Council) initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have both also supported such a proposal. The inaugural meeting of the EPC was held in Prague on 6 October.

The 'EU+ summit' was hosted by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and attended by 43 national delegations from the EU-27, Western Balkans and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Turkey. According to Charles Michel, the EPC aims to go 'beyond enlargement' and will steer political dialogue and coordination, mainly on security issues, with like-minded countries, those that have an ambition to join the EU and those that do not. The EPC can be seen in the light of the ambition for a 'geopolitical Commission' that 'stabilises its neighbourhood, accelerates enlargement and champions multilateralism'.