European leaders are sounding the alarm: it’s time to take charge of their own backyard. At Thursday’s European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán declared a “new era of European sovereignty,” urging the continent to reduce reliance on U.S. security guarantees. The gathering of nearly 50 nations tackled everything from migration to economic turbulence – and the message was clear: Europe wants its seat at the global power table. 💪
Why Now?
With wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, record migration, and post-pandemic economic cracks, leaders agreed: “We can’t outsource our stability,” Orbán stressed. The recent U.S. election results also fueled talks about preparing for shifting geopolitical winds. 🌪️
Key Takeaways
Beyond security, the summit saw consensus on speeding up peace efforts in Europe and bridging economic divides. Albania’s PM Edi Rama, set to host the 2025 EPC summit, called the dialogue “revolutionary” compared to earlier EU-non-EU tensions. Bonus highlight? Albania and Western Balkan nations could join the EU within 10 years! 🚀
What’s Next?
Launched in 2022, the EPC is fast becoming Europe’s go-to crisis chatroom. As Hungary steers the EU presidency, expect more talks on homegrown defense strategies and economic teamwork. Because when the world feels like a Netflix thriller, you don’t wait for the credits. 🍿
