European Union leaders will convene in Dublin this week for a series of critical meetings centered around Artificial Intelligence (AI), hybrid threats across the continent, and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The Republic of Ireland is presiding over the EU presidency until the end of the year, with the European Political Community (EPC) and an informal meeting of the European Council serving as its main showpiece events. The country has enacted extensive security measures for the occasion, including deploying its police force in the largest operation in state history, shutting down sections of Dublin city center, and experiencing traffic disruptions.
The first-ever discussion among EU leaders on AI will transpire during the EPC summit on Thursday, attended by approximately 50 international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, heads of state from across the EU, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The focus of the event, themed "Europe – strong, secure, and connected," will span economic security, Ukraine, hybrid activity in Europe, and democratic resilience.
In addition to the EPC meeting, a Friends of Ukraine group co-hosted by the UK and Ukraine is set to convene on the margins of the EU gathering. Ukrainian President Zelensky is expected to brief leaders during this session, while US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are slated to meet with Zelensky in Dublin later in the week following trilateral talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
On Friday, an informal meeting of the European Council will take place, also at the Convention Centre Dublin. The event will primarily focus on AI and Ukraine, with Prof Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the "godfather of AI," among the speakers. While some leaders may choose not to attend due to scheduling conflicts, such as Turkey hosting the COP31 climate summit, it promises to be a pivotal gathering in shaping Europe's strategic responses to these pressing global issues.