The Green Post Ireland
Dublin, 12 November 2026 — More than 50 European and international delegations are gathering in Dublin for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, the largest diplomatic event ever hosted by Ireland.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin began welcoming leaders to the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday morning, with Ukraine’s war, European security, economic competitiveness and artificial intelligence among the main topics for discussion.
The summit, a major event of Ireland’s EU Presidency, is taking place under an unprecedented Garda security operation involving extensive restrictions across the capital.
Zelensky Attends Dublin Summit Following Abu Dhabi Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending the summit following two days of peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the United States and Europe.
The talks concluded on Wednesday without a major diplomatic breakthrough, although the parties reportedly reached an understanding on a substantial prisoner exchange.
Zelensky met Micheál Martin in Dublin on Wednesday evening and said further progress would depend on Washington’s willingness to increase pressure on Moscow.
US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to brief Zelensky in Dublin after travelling to Moscow to discuss the Abu Dhabi negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky, Martin and European Council President António Costa are scheduled to address the summit’s opening plenary session.
Martin condemned Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian targets, reiterating Ireland’s support for Ukraine and a lasting peace agreement.
Which World Leaders Are Attending the Dublin EPC Summit?
The European Political Community brings together leaders from EU member states and other European countries to discuss shared challenges.
Among those attending are NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Seven senior representatives of EU institutions are also participating.
Several leaders are absent. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is attending the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is campaigning ahead of a snap election, and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever remains occupied with domestic budget negotiations.
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the EPC format in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Unlike formal EU summits, EPC meetings do not normally produce negotiated declarations or binding action plans. Instead, leaders use the gatherings for informal discussions and bilateral diplomacy.
Dublin Under Tight Security as Gardaí Deploy Thousands of Officers
The EPC summit and Friday’s informal European Council meeting have prompted what Irish authorities describe as the largest security operation in the history of An Garda Síochána.
More than 500 participants are expected across the delegations.
According to the Irish Presidency, Garda personnel will undertake more than 15,000 twelve-hour shifts over a 72-hour period.
The operation includes specialist security teams, river patrols, newly acquired police vehicles and advanced counter-drone detection systems.
Authorities have also arranged more than 35,000 meals for officers working during the events.
Security preparations have been complicated by recent bomb threats affecting Irish media organisations and threats directed at European airlines, including Aer Lingus and Ryanair.
Officials have not established responsibility for those threats. Suspicions of possible Russian-linked hybrid activity remain unconfirmed.
AI, Energy Prices and European Defence on Summit Agenda
The summit is taking place under the theme “Europe: Strong, Secure, Connected.”
Leaders are expected to discuss economic security, competitiveness, artificial intelligence, defence cooperation and high energy costs.
Separate sessions will examine democratic resilience, foreign interference and misinformation, particularly ahead of elections scheduled across several European countries in 2027.
The programme also includes meetings of the Friends of Ukraine and Friends of Moldova groups.
Informal bilateral discussions will take place throughout the day, allowing leaders to address regional disputes and diplomatic issues outside the formal plenary sessions.
Dublin EPC Summit Schedule for November 12
The opening plenary is scheduled for 11.30am, with addresses by Micheál Martin, Volodymyr Zelensky and António Costa.
The programme then moves to thematic discussions chaired jointly by EU and non-EU leaders.
A closing plenary is scheduled for 5.15pm, followed by a press conference involving Martin, Costa and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.
Switzerland is due to host the next European Political Community summit in spring 2027.
Delegates will attend an evening dinner and cultural programme at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Ukraine Funding and EU Budget Disputes Remain Unresolved
Although the EPC summit is designed for informal political dialogue, disagreements over financial support for Ukraine remain significant.
Ukraine is expected to require approximately €70 billion in funding during 2027.
EU leaders are seeking greater contributions from international partners, including Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Germany’s position on the EU’s next seven-year budget has also generated disagreements, particularly over whether member states receiving EU funds should be required to contribute to Ukraine’s support.
