Greater than 45 European leaders will converge on Oxfordshire subsequent week to debate a few of the most urgent generational points dealing with Europe.
The Prime Minister will welcome leaders from throughout the continent to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, for the European Political Group (EPC) assembly on Thursday [18 July].
In the present day’s threats are generationally difficult, and the Prime Minister is obvious that the United Kingdom is at all times stronger when working in shut collaboration with others. The UK authorities will use the summit to debate nearer collaboration to deal with unlawful immigration and higher safety cooperation with European counterparts to maintain Britain secure.
For the primary time at a gathering of the EPC, NATO, the Organisation for Safety and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe might be in attendance, demonstrating the significance of unity in response to the arc of battle and instability inside and close to Europe’s borders that impacts the UK and the continent’s pursuits equally.
The PM needs to rebuild relationships with key European companions so forward of the summit, the Prime Minister will host the Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris, for his first official inward go to since turning into Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will even maintain a bilateral dinner with the French President in Blenheim Palace after the summit.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated:
Europe is on the forefront of a few of the best challenges of our time.
Russia’s barbaric struggle continues to reverberate throughout our continent, whereas vile smuggling gangs visitors harmless individuals on perilous journeys that too usually finish in tragedy.
We can’t be spectators on this chapter of historical past. We should do extra and go additional, not only for the brave Ukrainians on the frontlines, or these being trafficked from country-to-country, however so our future generations look again with satisfaction at what our continent achieved collectively.
I stated I’d change the best way the UK engages with our European companions, working collaboratively to drive ahead progress on these generational challenges, and that work begins on the European Political Group assembly on Thursday.
The EPC assembly comes at an important time Ukraine, as Russian aggression intensifies over the summer time. The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK’s assist for Ukraine is ironclad, and he’ll use the assembly as a platform to push for continued worldwide navy and monetary assist for Ukraine, forward of what’s anticipated to be a troublesome winter.
There might be a gap plenary, adopted by three roundtables on migration, power and connectivity, and defending and securing democracy, earlier than ending with a closing plenary.
Sustainability is on the coronary heart of summit planning, with 80% of the vegetables and fruit being served to delegates coming from Blenheim’s gardens. Showcasing the most effective of British at Blenheim, attendees of the summit will take pleasure in Oxfordshire strawberries and cream, alongside greater than 800 scones being served throughout afternoon tea.
Blenheim Palace, which was utilized by MI5 from 1940 to 1945 after their headquarters was broken within the Blitz through the Second World Warfare, has been remodeled to accommodate greater than 450 delegates.
That is the fourth EPC assembly for the reason that grouping was based in October 2022. Earlier conferences, hosted within the Czech Republic, Moldova, and Spain, have been instrumental in uniting Europe to assist Ukraine, forging cooperation on power safety and tackling the shared problem of unlawful migration.
