Meeting 20 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, the forty-six Heads of State or Government of the countries that make up the ‘European Political Community’ (EPC) demonstrated their unity on Thursday 1 June in the face of Russia’s attempts to destabilise the continent (see EUROPE 13191/2). They affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, whose President, Volodymyr Zelensky, had travelled to Bulboaca to defend his country against the Russian “aggressor” in the name of European values.
Hosting the summit, Moldovan President Maia Sandu succeeded in meeting the unprecedented challenge of hosting an event of this scale in a fragile environment. For French President Emmanuel Macron, the Bulboaca summit demonstrates “the relevance of this idea (of a European Political Community) and the strength of this format”. He noted the “organisational challenge” of holding this summit close to the Ukrainian front, a “very strong symbol” of the enlarged Europe’s support for Ukraine and Moldova. “As each country is on an equal footing, it is not a question of tackling challenges from the centre to the periphery”, he said.
However, some will interpret the absence of the newly re-elected Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as a way for Turkey to maintain an equidistant position from Ukraine and Russia.
“This second summit of the European Political Community is a clear expression of our unity, strength and determination to act together as a single family. A family that sticks together, a family that works together to address common issues. A single European family where states from inside and outside the European Union act together to dissuade aggression and consolidate peace on the continent”, said Ms Sandu at the inaugural public session. However, she said “more needs to be done“ in a forum such as the EPC to “confront the consequences of war and protect Europe”. If we don’t find common solutions, what will be at stake for Europe, for the rules-based international order? - she asked.
In the full show of our unity, “we do see who the aggressor is”, said Mr Zelensky. Determined to rapidly obtain increased military support for his country, he warned his counterparts that any “doubts” we might express would be exploited by the Kremlin to create more “insecurity”. He also called for security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia’s neighbours, including Belarus in the long term, with a view to NATO membership (see EUROPE 13192/4). “When there are no security guarantees, there are only war guarantees”, he said. As proof, Russia is only trying to “swallow” countries that are not part of the Alliance shield.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, urged his counterparts to increase the ‘patriotic coalition’ of countries prepared to step up military aid to Ukraine, through the supply of air defence systems and/or fighter jets.
Mr Zelensky also referred to the disappointment that his fellow citizens would feel if the European Council did not give the green light in December for the official opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Some concrete decisions
At the end of the inaugural session, the forty-six leaders present were divided into four round tables to discuss concrete projects around themes such as security, energy and connectivity.
Taking part in the discussions on energy, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, whose country will host the third EPC summit on Friday 6 October in Granada, spoke of the projects for a corridor linking Spain, Romania and Ukraine and a maritime gas pipeline linking Barcelona to Marseille (see EUROPE 13047/6).
Hosting the first EPC summit (see EUROPE 13037/1), the Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, spoke of security issues, including hybrid threats and “foreign manipulations” that are trying to divide countries.
In this area, eleven third countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) want to participate in the Digital Europe programme. In particular, they will be able to benefit from the future European reserve of experts, who will be deployed in the event of a cyber attack (see EUROPE 13164/1). There are also plans to organise an EPC-wide cyber exercise, with the support of the European agency ENISA.
As for the resilience of critical infrastructures, exchanges of best practice on stress tests could be organised between volunteer States, based on the recently adopted European standards (see EUROPE 13081/2).
Strong support for Moldova’s resilience and European aspirations
Many leaders have praised Moldova’s ability to resist pressure and attempts at destabilisation from Russia and its supporters.
Our presence in Bulboaca “speaks volumes” about our support for Moldova and our renewed focus on the Eastern Partnership and the Black Sea region, said the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis. Romania is a major contributor to Moldova’s rapprochement with the EU and was the initiator of European sanctions against Moldovan oligarchs who tried to destabilise the country (see EUROPE 13191/3).
Other leaders, such as Mr Sánchez, congratulated the Moldovan authorities on their efforts on the road to European integration, which Ms Sandu described as “irreversible”.
Moldova and Ukraine were granted EU candidate country status in June of 2022.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said that Moldova’s accession to the EU was “independent of what is happening in Transnistria”, a pro-Russian separatist region. In his view, Moldova can join the EU as Cyprus did in 2004.
Mr Macron expressed his “great confidence” in Moldova’s ability to move forward “with great speed” on the road to accession. “We Europeans must shoulder our responsibilities by speeding up enlargement” by anchoring the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova, while reforming the way the EU operates and its internal powers, he said. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)