OMM Newsroom
According to AnewZ, the ninth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) is being held in Dublin on Nov. 12. European leaders are discussing security, defence, energy cooperation and economic resilience, as well as Azerbaijan’s role in regional peace and connectivity.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev upon his arrival at the summit.
Ilham Aliyev meets Zelenskyy and Sandu
Ilham Aliyev met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit. The leaders discussed prospects for expanding economic and trade ties, particularly cooperation between the private sectors. They also exchanged views on reciprocal visits by delegations from the two countries.
The Azerbaijani President also met Moldovan President Maia Sandu. Sandu highlighted Azerbaijan’s energy cooperation with Moldova, said her country was interested in further developing relations and thanked Azerbaijan for supporting efforts to strengthen Moldova’s energy security.
Speaking to AnewZ on the sidelines of the summit, Sandu described energy security as one of Moldova’s main challenges. She pointed to efforts to diversify energy supply sources and reduce dependence on Russia.
“Energy remains a major challenge for all of us, especially for Moldova,” Sandu said.
“We hope to have a good discussion today and find solutions,” the Moldovan President added.
Asked about the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Sandu welcomed diplomatic efforts aimed at regional stability. “We want peace in all our countries and, of course, I welcome any discussion and effort that leads to peace,” she said.
Leaders discuss defence and support for Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged European allies and Canada to increase defence spending, expand military production and step up support for Ukraine. He also said Europe needed to improve its resilience against growing hybrid threats.
Speaking to AnewZ, Rutte said NATO members in Europe and Canada had increased their combined defence spending by $250 billion in 2025 and 2026. However, he said more needed to be done. Rutte stressed the importance of increasing industrial output and developing more weapons systems and military equipment to protect allied countries.
The NATO Secretary General also underlined the importance of ensuring Ukraine remained in a strong position as winter approached, amid ongoing negotiations with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that Europe needed a clear and unified vision on Ukraine. Referring to two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, he stressed the importance of Europe having a clear, common position on what it wanted.
Macron said the EPC should support “very clear principles and commitments” on Europe’s security architecture.
Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, stressed the importance of peace, stability and security in Europe. He said closer cooperation, connectivity and democratic values were needed, and noted the Council of Europe’s role in bringing together 46 member states and safeguarding a common legal space.
“We need to be strong, connected and secure to achieve peace and stability,” Berset said.
Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Berset said lasting peace in Europe was impossible without justice and accountability: “There will be no security and stability in Europe without a long-term and lasting peace in Ukraine. There is no peace without justice, and no justice without accountability.” He also pointed to ongoing efforts to establish accountability mechanisms.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin praised the Coalition of the Willing’s role in strengthening support for Ukraine. Speaking to AnewZ, Martin said the coalition had engaged effectively with the United States, including President Donald Trump, on Ukraine-related issues and coordinated efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defence and security capabilities.
Martin also noted the coalition’s role in securing financial support for Kyiv and the strong backing provided by individual member states.
