Increasing the connectivity of the European continent will be the theme of the largest ever political and diplomatic event held in Ireland, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
The European Political Community summit is getting under way in Dublin, with Mr Martin greeting as many as 50 heads of state as well as European Union officials.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are among those arriving at the Convention Centre amid the biggest security operation in the history of the Irish state.
UK President Andy Burnham will arrive later, flying in after attending the UN Cop31 climate conference in Turkey.
The summit is part of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council.
Ukraine will be at the centre of discussions at the summit, with President Volodymyr Zelensky due to address the plenary session.
Mr Zelensky said he expects to receive an update from US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after recent talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to the media at the start of the summit, Mr Martin dismissed concerns over its informal nature and ability to make progress.
He said: “European leaders who are members of the European Union meet regularly.
“The benefit of the EPC is it broadens that to many other countries within the European continent and beyond.
“Canada is arriving today as well, which enables us to deal with some fairly fundamental issues.
“The theme today is being a more connected European continent, connected in the sense of both people-to-people connections, but physical connections, technological connectivity, and of course energy.
“These are big, big topics for all countries.
“And when countries come together, we can develop common solutions to those particular problems and to those issues, be it affordable energy, be it security and protection, particularly in terms of the technological attacks that are happening on a regular basis, and also in terms of economic security, critical raw materials, rare earth minerals, and how do we collectively make sure that there is security for people in respect of those issues?”
Mr Martin also said he believes the European Union has “put down a very clear marker” in terms of the security of the continent’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
He said: “I think Europe, broadly speaking, is united.
“I mean, the more fundamental impulse, we are democrats, we believe in democratic values.
“We don’t believe in war. We’re appalled and we oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“I think everyone is genuinely shocked at the level of death and destruction that has occurred because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
He added: “It is absolutely shocking and horrific, the number of young people who have lost their lives, Ukrainians and Russian soldiers who have lost their lives needlessly because of the imperialist agenda of Vladimir Putin.
“And Europe has stood strong, in my view.
“To be fair, and I think the European Union, notwithstanding all of the challenges, notwithstanding that we’re dealing with 27 member states.
“I think the European Union has stood strong in the face of that aggression and to put down a very clear marker in terms of the security of Europe.
“And we know many member states feel an existential threat because of what has happened in Ukraine and the potential, if Ukraine was to fall, for further aggression on the European continent.”
UK Prime Minister Mr Burnham is expected to announce further sanctions against Russia and discuss hybrid threats to European security.
At the EPC summit, Mr Burnham is expected to co-chair a security and defence roundtable, attend a Ukraine meeting and hold a series of bilateral talks.
He has recently reopened the debate about Britain’s future relationship with the EU and ahead of a summit in Brussels next Friday.
Mr Burnham’s spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: “You can expect a focus on Ukraine, particularly following the peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week, and of course the EU summit.
“The Prime Minister will use the meeting of more than 50 leaders to drive forward both agendas to boost security in Europe and here at home and make progress through an EU deal that cuts costs for families.”
The EPC was set up in 2022 as an informal forum for leaders to hold political and strategic discussions on issues of shared concern, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This will be its ninth meeting and will involve leaders from all EU countries, the wider European region, EU institutions and international organisations.
The theme of the summit in Dublin is “Europe – strong, secure and connected”, and it will include discussions on strengthening Europe’s economy in the face of geopolitical challenges, supporting Ukraine and addressing hybrid threats, efforts to undermine democracy and AI.
The gathering will be chaired by the president of the European Council, António Costa.
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