EU Draft: European Political Community Addition to Enlargement Policy

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A draft version of the conclusion the European Council is expected to adopt during the next summit on June 23-24 says that the European Political Community will not replace the European Union’s existing policies, including the EU enlargement strategy, but complement them instead, while the Western Balkan states involved in the integration process have been urged to continue their reforms and resolve open issues, the Belgrade-Pristina talks included.

According to the document BETA and EURACTIV.rs had access to, the European Council had carried out “a strategic debate” on the Union’s relations with its partners in Europe, taking into account a proposal to launch the European Political Community (EPC).

The EPC will extend to the Western Balkans, the countries included in the Eastern Partnership and other European states the Union had developed close relations with. The purpose of the new initiative would be to step up the political dialogue and cooperation in the matters of mutual interest, in order to strengthen the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent.

“The new framework will not replace the existing policies and instruments of the European Union, but rather complement them, enlargement in particular. It will also respect fully the autonomy of decision making in the Union,” the draft says.

The document goes on to say that the European Council has reconfirmed the urgent need to make tangible progress in resolving open bilateral and regional disputes, including within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, expected to support the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.