Truss's 'Yes' boosts Macron's new European forum initiative

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has joined the inaugural summit of a pan European grouping this week. This initiative was the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, which some had dismissed as a mere talking shop.

Prague will host the summit of the European Political Community (EPC). It will include 27 European Union leaders.

Truss's attendance at Thursday's meeting will give Britain an opportunity to create a new European forum inside the country after Brexit. It could also shift the focus away from domestic financial and political turmoil.

A European diplomat said that the British used a pragmatic strategy: "If it's impossible to 'kill' a strange initiative, it's better to engage deeply and direct it in your own manner."

Diplomats claim the EPC's purpose may not be clear. Many doubt it, as there are so many at the table, both foes and friends, that it will last. However, it will address the issues that all of them care about: security, energy, and immigration.

Macron's main goal is to welcome EU candidate countries who are losing patience in waiting to join the bloc. This will counter the attempts of Russia and China to gain power in the continent’s eastern and southern fringes.

A French official stated that one of the goals is to be able tell Kosovo and Albania that we can do things together, and they don’t need to rely on Russia or China for investment.

Macron fears that the long road to EU membership could discourage Western Balkans countries, which would encourage populism and euroscepticism.

French think it's important to have a forum for discussing security with Britain, Europe’s other major military power, and energy with Norway, which currently helps Europe to get off Russian gas.

"BLAH BLAH"

Macron's lofty ideas about a happy family in Europe are not shared widely.

The proposal was initially viewed with suspicion by the eastern European countries and Ukraine, in particular. They suspected that it was a plot by France to keep them in "purgatory" by refusing to admit more countries to the EU.

French officials have denied this and gone out of their ways to reassure them.

"At the beginning we were afraid that the EPC might be an alternative to EU member, but as it develops now I don't believe so," a diplomat from eastern Europe said.

However, expectations remain low.

The diplomat from eastern Europe stated that it would be just another forum for blah blah to discuss... but that after a few meetings it might end without any major success.

"There are too many countries that have too many interests. How can you have Serbia while talking about Russia?" How can you combine Turkey and Greece/Cyprus? How can Armenia and Azerbaijan be at the same table?

France is well aware of the fact that without a clear agenda many people feel the summit will be little more than a large family photo with leaders at Prague Castle.

It was still pleased that Ukraine had offered suggestions on how the EPC should look, and Moldova has offered to host its second summit.

A French diplomat stated that concrete initiatives could be developed from the forum. These include university cooperation after Britain exits the Erasmus exchange program, and free roaming charges between member countries.

European diplomats believe the initiative has the benefit of bringing Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan closer towards Europe and away Russia.

Although initially miffed at French hesitancy, the Turks eventually received an invitation. They will attend but warn the EU not to believe Ankara will abandon its ambitions to join the club. 23 years ago, it opened membership negotiations with EU.

Some European diplomats recall another French initiative that Nicolas Sarkozy launched ten years ago with great fanfare. It was lost to time.

One diplomat from the Baltic said that it would be similar to the Mediterranean Union. It will not have a lot of success or real impact.

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