Top StoryTrending StoryWorld News

43 European leaders strive for unity against Russia in historic summit in Prague

135

A new pan-European community will be born on Thursday when leaders from all corners of the continent assemble in Prague in a show of strength against Russia, Per Second News gathered.

Despite initial scepticism at the idea dreamt up by French President Emmanuel Macron, diplomats have persuaded 43 countries to take part in the summit including Ukraine and Britain.

Leaders will discuss security, energy and the economy in the historic surroundings of Prague Castle, with officials stressing the informal nature of the gathering, known as the European Political Community.

Organisers want the inaugural summit to be as amicable as possible. No policy decisions are planned, meaning no bickering over texts, and leaders’ aides met last week to defuse possible points of tension in advance.

The new club received a boost when UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who poured cold water on the idea when she was foreign secretary and has verbally sparred with Mr Macron, accepted her invitation to Prague.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the summit remotely in its opening session, following interventions by Ms Truss, the Czech prime minister and others.

Mr Zelenskyy was also initially wary of the project after Mr Macron pitched it as a way of bringing Ukraine into the European fold without fast-tracking its EU membership bid, which he said could take decades.

However, officials insist the community is not a substitute for EU membership, and applicants including Albania, North Macedonia, Moldova and Georgia have accepted invitations to Prague.

Third countries including Norway, Switzerland and Iceland with no ambitions to join the EU are also taking part. Russia and Belarus are the only major countries not invited.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just In: Delta military killings: DHQ declares Prof. Arthur, Amagben, six others wanted

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight people wanted over the recent killing...

Just in: Soneye, NNPC Ltd.’s spokesman, wins NIPR’s Distinguished Spokesperson Award

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company...

Pres. Tinubu pays last respect to 17 soldiers murdered in Delta State

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended scholarships to the children of the...

Just in: Bodies of 17 slain gallant soldiers arrive at Abuja military cemetery for burial

The bodies of the 17 military personnel slain recently at Okuama, Delta...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Kidnappers ‘ll be treated as terrorists, they are cowards going after soft targets – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called for treating those involved in kidnapping as...

Togo dumps presidential system for parliamentary, adopts new constitution

Togolese lawmakers adopted a new constitution on Monday, moving the West African...

Just In: Again, CBN increases interest rate to 24.75 percent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)...

U.S. state bars under-15 children from having social media accounts

Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill prohibiting children younger...

U.S. bridge collapses after cargo ship collision, casualties feared

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed...

Outgoing Pres. Sall congratulates Senegal’s opposition leader Faye on presidential poll victory 

by Paul Ejime Outgoing Senegal’s President Macky Sall, on Monday congratulated opposition...

Ease of doing business: NPA MD begins new week working on TinCan Port access road

As part of efforts aimed at consolidating the gains recorded in the...

Dani Alves pays €1m bail, set to leave Spanish jail

Former Brazil and Barcelona star Dani Alves, convicted of rape in Spain,...

Just in: How detained Binance Executive Anjarwalla outwits security officials, bolts from custody in Abuja

One of the two Binance executives detained in Abuja for alleged tax...

Senegal presidential poll: 44-year-old opposition leader, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, leads

Opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is leading in the early race in...

Moscow attack: Four suspects in custody, death toll hits 137

Russia has charged four men who, it says, attacked a Moscow concert...

Breaking: FG files tax evasion charges against Binance

The Federal Government has slammed a four-count charge against Binance, a prominent...

Senegalese file out on Sunday to elect new president

Senegal’s 7.4 million registered voters came out in large numbers on Sunday...

World TB Day: 70 percent of TB cases in Africa now being diagnosed and treated – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that about 70 percent of...

Just in: After 17 days in kidnappers’ den, 287 Kaduna primary school children released

After 17 days in captivity, the 287 Kuriga school children, who were...