Presidence de la Republique
Towards a European Political Community
Event Sponsor
Overview
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested creating a 鈥楨uropean Political Community鈥 to foster cooperation between the EU and its neighbors. Some see this as a re-branding of the EU鈥檚 neighborhood policy, others have viewed it as an alternative to enlargement. In Prague on October 6, European leaders will discuss this new organization and unveil potential members.
The discussion of this initiative, with introductory remarks by French Ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, and a short introduction from Wilson Center President & CEO, Ambassador Mark Green, was followed by a panel discussion led by Robin Quinville, Wilson Center's Global Europe Program Director, featuring Wilson Center Global Fellow Diana Negroponte and Ambassador Corrado Pirzio-Biroli. 听
Select Quotes
Ambassador 脡tienne
- 鈥淚t is important to keep in mind that President Macron always sought to emphasize the importance of the European debate and the European agenda.鈥
- We have made significant progress 鈥渄espite, or maybe because of the many crises that Europe has undergone.鈥
- 鈥淭he idea of a stronger Europe is good news for the United States.鈥
- 鈥淭his European Community offers a new approach to European integration that indeed doesn鈥檛 just focus on accession to the EU. It is not an alternative to accession.鈥
- 鈥淚t is not a coincidence that the idea of creating a European Political Community came in the context of the Russian aggression.鈥
Ambassador Pirzio-Biroli
- 鈥淚 think that the European Political Community is a watered-down idea of the EPC as it was originally. But, it is visionary at the same time.鈥
- 鈥淢acron wants with his vision that Europe becomes a world actor, and is able to defend its values and its law, and wants to make sure that further enlargements will not affect the EU鈥檚 decision-making capacity.鈥
- 鈥淭he EPC is not a precondition for accession negotiations. But it must serve to prepare current and future members to make the EU fit for future enlargement.鈥
- 鈥淓U integration can do a lot to promote stability in the Western Balkans.鈥
- 鈥淭he EPC must somehow try to be different. For the EPC, security must be key.鈥
- 鈥淲hatever Europe would do would be entirely complementary to NATO, and would reinforce it.鈥
Diana Negroponte
- 鈥淭his is the time to reinvent the European Project.鈥
- "Flexibility so that 鈥渢he soul of Europe can be maintained.鈥"
- 鈥淭he tactical advantage for the UK would be get in early and write the rules.鈥
听
Speakers
Hosted By
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe鈥檚 capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues.听 We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe鈥檚 relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include 鈥淯kraine in Europe鈥 鈥 an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine鈥檚 European future a reality.听 But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe鈥檚 energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program鈥檚 staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.
