EU Invites Next British PM

(MENAFN- Straits Research)

The EU will extend an invitation to a conference to explore a new organization unifying the democracies of the European continent, as well as an olive branch to the future British prime minister.

The creation of a European Political community, an organization devoted to strengthening security throughout the continent, will take place at a summit in Prague on October 6. It is widely anticipated that Britain's future prime minister, Liz Truss, will attend.

Despite“difficulties” with the Northern Ireland protocol, European Council President Charles Michel said he did not doubt that Britain would receive an invitation to the Czech capital.He claimed that it was apparent that Britain should be there in an interview with the Guardian and other European media. There is no question that we are friends and that we must continue to work as a team, according to Michel, even though there have been disagreements and talks on the NI protocol.

Michel is a strong political friend of French President Emmanuel Macron. In May, he proposed the creation of a political community in Europe that would encompass all of the democracies on the continent, including Ukraine and other Western Balkans that want to join the EU.

According to polls, Truss will likely be elected No. 10 by Conservative Party members. If this happens, her response to the invitation will give us a good idea of how she feels about Europe.

Truss avoided mentioning the European Union in his speech about Britain's allies while serving as foreign secretary. She caused great concern among British diplomats during the Tory leadership contest when she stated that“the jury is still out” over whether Macron was an ally or adversary of Britain.

Belgian politician Charles Michel has presided over the European Council since 2019. Between 2014 through 2019, he held the position of the prime minister of Belgium.

From 2007 until he was elected the head of the liberal Francophone Reformist Movement (MR) in February 2011, Michel served as the minister of development cooperation. In the 2014 federal election, he guided MR to a third-place finish, making them the largest party in the House of Representatives. Michel was appointed prime minister of an MR-N-VA-OVLD-CD&V coalition after coalition talks. The youngest Belgian prime minister since 1845 was sworn in on October 11, 2014.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Michel used a tone akin to that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has declared that he would not think twice about referring to Britain as a friend. Michel added the UK is a friend, partner, and partner who shares my values.

Contrary to an earlier decision not to invite Boris Johnson to an EU summit attended by Joe Biden earlier this year, the invitation to a gathering of European leaders on October 6 – immediately after the Tory party conference – is a positive development.

While EU diplomats concur that Britain should be invited to the meeting, there is more disagreement regarding Turkey's inclusion. Greece and Cyprus reject welcoming Turkey, which still holds the status of an official candidate for membership in the EU. However, negotiations have been deadlocked for years due to their ongoing conflicts with Ankara. But Michel said he wanted to“make sure there is support from all colleagues” before the EU invited Turkey.

The remainder of the guest list is simple: Invitations will be extended to nine countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and six western nations, as well as Norway and Switzerland, two non-EU nations highly integrated into the single market, Including non-candidates Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Balkan states.

Michel said that leaders preferred a loose-knit,“extremely flexible” organization like the G7 or G20, despite worries that the European political community might duplicate existing pan-European organizations like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

We don't want a convoluted framework, he declared.

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Mary Elizabeth Truss is a British politician. She has served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs since 2021 and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2019. She is a Conservative Party member and has served as the South West Norfolk MP since 2010. Under Prime Ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and David Cameron, she held several Cabinet positions. Truss is seeking the position of Conservative Party leader.

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