I was part of the official delegation, headed by HE Mr Luca Beccari, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, representing San Marino in the 4th European Political Community Summit, held on 18 July 2024 at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, United Kingdom. The venue, Blenheim Palace, is the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
After welcoming the delegation at the London Heathrow VIP area, I took part in the official events of the Summit, which was attended by more than 45 European leaders, including the President of France Emmanuel Macron, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanches, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, to mention just a few.
For the first time at a meeting of the EPC, NATO, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe were in attendance, demonstrating the importance of unity in response to the arc of conflict and instability inside and near Europe’s borders that affects the UK and the continent’s interests equally.
It was a unique and great experience to be part of this global event where leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions around a wide range of pressing generational issues facing Europe. These included the ongoing war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by illegal immigration, and the importance of collaboration on security matters. The agenda was heavily packed, reflecting the urgency and significance of these topics.