With no non-EU country volunteering to host the 2026 summit, doubts about the EPC's long-term viability continue to grow. As the European Policy Centre warned, "without reform, the EPC risks becoming irrelevant."

by Xinhua writers Yin Xiaosheng, Kang Yi and Lin Hao

TIRANA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Amid rising political and economic pressures, the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) concluded in Tirana on Friday with few substantive results.

Themed "New Europe in a new world: unity - cooperation - joint action," the summit marked the EPC's first gathering in the Western Balkans. Yet, despite mounting calls for solidarity, deep divisions and growing anxieties were difficult to settle.

Around 50 national and regional leaders, as well as heads of European Union (EU) and international institutions, gathered in the Albanian capital, facing an array of unresolved issues ranging from enlargement fatigue and economic headwinds to migration dilemmas and pressing security concerns.

STRATEGIC ANXIETY

Launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2022, the EPC was intended to serve as a platform for policy coordination and political dialogue among European countries.

Three years on, however, that vision appears increasingly strained.

As transatlantic divisions deepen, particularly over the Ukraine conflict, European nations are increasingly grappling with the implications of a diminished American commitment.

Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that Europe is not a priority for the United States. "I don't think that in any field -- be it trade or defense or anything else," she said.

Faruk Boric, a political analyst from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that for many years, the EU had followed the United States in terms of external politics. "But nowadays you can see that (U.S. President Donald) Trump is trying to make America great again without the EU," he said.

Europe's economic concerns are also growing as a new wave of U.S. tariffs poses a serious challenge to sustaining growth and enhancing competitiveness. Negotiations between the EU and the United States on related issues have yet to yield a breakthrough.

The EU is currently facing a 25 percent U.S. import tariff on steel, aluminum and automobiles, along with a 10 percent baseline duty on nearly all other goods. In April, Washington announced a 20 percent "reciprocal tariff" on EU products, which was later postponed for 90 days.

Migration remains another intractable issue. The EU faces both illegal migration flows and labor shortages, creating both political and logistical strain. Recent discussions have broadened to include legal migration pathways, cooperation with countries of origin and transit, and managing so-called "weaponized" migration.

Divisions persist among EPC-participating countries on migration-related issues. There is no consensus over the proposal of offshore deportation centers or to provide greater facilitation for admitting more young migrants.

MORE SYMBOLIC THAN SUBSTANTIVE

Now in its sixth edition, the EPC still lacks a permanent secretariat, formal declarations or binding commitments. While it provides a flexible platform for dialogue, critics argue that a loose structure limits its political impact.

"The EPC has become little more than a photo-op of unity," said He Zhigao, associate researcher with the Institute of European Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "It can neither replace the EU nor NATO. It offers no real public goods like security guarantees or economic aid, and it lacks the power to advance meaningful EU enlargement."

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who co-chaired the meeting, called for a broader vision for the EPC beyond defense. "Why not imagine an EPC of education, science, and artificial intelligence and transnational lines beyond weaponry? A terrain of interconnected sources of knowledge, research and innovation, where Non-EU or Not-Yet-EU territories can become new frontiers for investments, free from bureaucracy, regulations and fiscal burdens..." he said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized at the summit Europe's responsibility to pursue unity despite diversity, noting that Western Balkan countries "must have a clear perspective for integration."

However, no concrete steps toward accession were taken during the summit, once again leaving candidate countries in a state of waiting.

With no non-EU country volunteering to host the 2026 summit, doubts about the EPC's long-term viability continue to grow. As the European Policy Centre warned, "without reform, the EPC risks becoming irrelevant."