New European toy | The Journal of Montreal

On the eve of a harsh winter, Europe needs good news. Last spring, Emmanuel Macron floated the idea of ​​launching a new body, the European Political Community (EPC), aimed at a kind of European G20.

It is true that Europeans need more inclusive and more European forums for discussion.

CPE brings together almost all European countries, from Iceland to Azerbaijan, via Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Balkan countries, sulfurous Turkey and of course Ukraine.

The leaders of 43 European countries gathered in Prague today for the first meeting of the European political community.

Because many countries do not agree among themselves, the goals of the convention are weak. Even if we can announce an agreement in the energy sector, we will be happy that everyone is talking without making a scene.

In the long term, European leaders want to establish cooperation mechanisms in security, education, energy and climate.

Naturally, Russia is a major absentee from this CPE. She will not enter it as long as Vladimir Putin is in power.

Benefits

At present, CPE has two advantages.

First, it allows European leaders to meet twice a year, which strengthens ties between European leaders.

Second, it helps counter Putin’s simplistic propaganda of pretending that Russia is not a Western country, while its culture, history and population, centered west of the Urals, make it a truly Western and European country.

CPE has great ambitions, especially in terms of security.

If Donald Trump and his Republicans win the elections to the US Congress in November or even worse the 2024 presidency, then the US will cease to be a reliable partner.

The CPE represents the hope of a greater Europe. A greater Europe that can more easily compete with China and form a strong pole in international relations.

nesting doll

This Greater Europe looks like a nesting doll. In between, some countries are really in control, including Germany and France. All around, the other countries of the European Union form a strong influence group. Finally, the remaining European countries form a sort of protected area of ​​the European Union, through which European countries wishing to join the European Union must pass through this airlock.

In fact, this European architecture already existed. CPE makes it more formal.

The biggest problem will be accommodating some pro-Russian countries with populations that are highly permeable to Putin’s campaign.

However, Putin’s defeats help the European side, as no one wants to associate themselves with losers.

Many forces have an interest in the failure of CPE. For now, it’s mostly a new toy.