The 8th European Political Community is full of exceptions

Brussels – The first-ever presence of a non-European country in a political forum which brings together EU and non-EU leaders is the most evident exception within a meeting of the European Political Community marked by concessions on sensitive neighbouring relations and notable absences.

The 8th meeting of the platform bringing together heads of state and government from across the continent, held in Yerevan on 4 May, required several adjustments due to the location of the gathering. Armenia’s complex, historically hostile and non-existent relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye risked compromising their participation from the outset, portraying a European unity that was only for show.

The compromise found was twofold. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, did not attend in person but joined remotely, while Türkiye was represented by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. In this way, although not attending in full accordance with the usual standards of the European Political Community, both countries were formally present.

As an EU official noted, the Azerbaijani President’s decision to take part in an international meeting held in Armenia is “highly significant” and “reflects the progress” made since the signing of the peace agreement between the two countries in August 2025, after more than 30 years of conflict and Azerbaijan’s military takeover of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023.

The same EU official described as “noteworthy from a historical perspective” the participation of a Turkish representative in Yerevan. Although no replacements are normally allowed for leaders who cannot attend a European Political Community summit, an exception was made in this case “due to the unique context and the historic moment” in Armenia–Türkiye relations, which have never been fully normalised, particularly due to disputes over the Armenian genocide.

Speaking of leaders unable to attend the meeting in Yerevan, 11 were absent – the highest number ever recorded in four years of these summits. Of these, 10 are from EU member states – Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden – plus Iceland, which could soon become a new EU member.

Despite not being a European country, Canada was invited in consideration of the fact that “we are more than just like-minded partners – together we are building a global alliance to defend peace, shared prosperity and multilateralism,” President of the European Council António Costa explained. A closer relationship between Brussels and Ottawa seems increasingly likely due to US President Donald Trump‘s constant threats and unpredictability, which is jeopardising relations with both traditional partners.

What is the European Political Community

The European Political Community is a platform for coordination between European heads of state and government of EU and non-EU countries on issues of shared strategic importance. Proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and former European Council President Charles Michel, the initiative held its first meeting in October 2022 in Czechia.

Since its launch, the summit has taken place every six months in a different host country, alternating between EU member states – typically the one holding the rotating presidency of the Council – and non-EU countries. Meetings have been held in Moldova (June 2023), Spain (October 2023), the United Kingdom (July 2024), Hungary (November 2024), Tirana (May 2025), and Copenaghen (October 2025). The next European Political Community summit is set to be held in Ireland in November 2026.

Apart from all 27 EU leaders – and the presidents of the EU institutions and other relevant European bodies – leaders from outside the Union are also invited to attend the summits. In Yerevan, representatives from 20 non-EU countries are present: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. For the first time, a non European country – Canada – was invited as a guest.

While this summit may resemble existing EU institutions and international organisations, it does not directly replicate any of them, thanks to its informal, flexible format, centred on an opening plenary session, small roundtable discussions on specific issues, and a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings rather than the complex procedures of more institutionalised bodies.

The European Union is clearly the driving force, yet less than 60% of its participants are EU member states. Like the European Council, it brings together heads of state and government, but deliberately avoids the binary EU/non-EU divide and produces no formal conclusions. In its composition, it echoes the Council of Europe, though it lacks a focus on human rights. Like the OSCE, its aim is to promote peace, dialogue and cooperation, but it has no security infrastructure and does not extend beyond Europe.