{
  "id": 19610563,
  "title": "EPC summit to get under way in Convention Centre today",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/epc-summit-to-get-under-way-in-convention-centre-today",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-12T06:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1112/1598891-epc-summit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit is set to commence today at the Convention Centre in Dublin, marking the pinnacle of Ireland's EU presidency. The high-profile event will see an attendance of up to 50 heads of state and government, alongside leaders of EU institutions. This diplomatic gathering comes amid heightened security concerns due to a series of bomb scares affecting Irish media outlets and threats directed at European airlines. Tensions surrounding the summit have been fueled by suspicions that these threats may be part of Russia's hybrid warfare efforts against European countries supporting Ukraine.\n\nThe EPC, conceived by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to bring together over 50 EU and non-EU leaders in an intimate setting to discuss common security and energy challenges. While the format was initially dismissed as a talking shop, it has gained prominence, with notable participation from leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The summit will also feature seven EU institution leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.\n\nThe informal nature of the EPC allows leaders to share experiences and perspectives on various pressing issues, including Russia's invasion, migration, cyberattacks, and energy prices. A previous EPC summit in Budapest in 2024 helped create goodwill for a post-Brexit reset, while the summit in Blenheim Palace in the UK provided a platform for Continental leaders to prepare for a potential Trump administration.\n\nDespite the absence of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spain's Pedro Sanchez due to their respective summit commitments, a significant turnout of prominent leaders is anticipated. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit, along with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and European Council President Antonio Costa, making them one of only three leaders to deliver a direct address during the first plenary session. Zelensky will provide an update on the recent peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which concluded on Wednesday. Ireland's hosting of the EPC has provided the state with a unique opportunity to engage in negotiations alongside other world leaders.",
  "summary": "The largest diplomatic undertaking in Irish history gets underway this morning as the Taoiseach Micheál Martin hosts the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit at the Convention Centre Dublin.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}