Dublin hosts about 50 European leaders for political community summit on Ukraine

Agenda and setting

Around 50 heads of state and government are due to gather in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), hosted by Ireland under the theme "Europe: strong, secure, connected". The meeting is set to focus on security, competitiveness and resilience across the continent. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin is hosting the gathering, which is being presented as the largest diplomatic and security operation the Irish state has ever run. The summit takes place during Ireland's six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union and brings together EU member states and European countries outside the bloc.

Ukraine at the top of the agenda

The war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, is expected to dominate the discussions as the Trump administration steps up efforts to revive the diplomatic process. Volodimir Zelenski arrived in Dublin on Wednesday, 11 November, in the evening, and met Martin, thanking him for Ukraine's "unwavering" support. He said he is waiting for information from the envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Zelenski is due to give European leaders an account of the two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, in which representatives of the United States and Russia took part.

UK and sanctions

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to attend after taking part in the COP31 climate conference in Turkey. He is expected to announce new sanctions against Russia and to discuss hybrid threats to European security. Burnham will co-chair a session on security and defence, join a meeting on Ukraine and hold a series of bilateral meetings. The summit also puts the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union back in focus, ahead of a European meeting in Brussels scheduled for the week of 16 November.

Romania's programme

President Nicușor Dan is taking part in the Dublin summit and in Friday's informal meeting of the European Council, which Ireland hosts in its capacity as holder of the Council presidency. In the plenary session, he is due to stress the need for a coordinated European response to shared security and competitiveness challenges, and to call for stronger strategic connectivity and democratic resilience, according to a statement from the Presidential Administration. He will give particular attention to the Eastern Flank, including the Black Sea, the regions most exposed to security threats. He is also expected to raise transport, energy and connectivity links with Ukraine and Moldova. At the security and defence roundtable, he will address support for Ukraine, democratic resilience and hybrid threats, including foreign interference and information manipulation. Dan will also attend the European Coalition against Drugs (ECAD) meeting, where he will call for tighter cooperation against drug trafficking, including securing ports and trafficking routes, and take part in a meeting of the Moldova Support Group.

Programme for the day

Proceedings open at 13:30, followed by a working lunch at 15:00. The security and defence roundtable starts at 16:00, the Moldova Support Group meets at 17:00, and the ECAD meeting begins at 18:30. The closing plenary session is scheduled for 19:15, and from 21:00 Nicușor Dan will attend a dinner hosted by Micheál Martin. On Friday, 13 November, he is due at the informal European Council from 12:00.