Meet the brand-new European Political Community

When Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, called in a speech to the European Parliament on May 9th for the creation of a “European political community” (EPC), to bring together European countries both within the EU and outside it, even the French hardly dared to hope that it would take shape less than six months later. Mr Macron fizzes with ideas about Europe, not all of which come to fruition. This one has at least got off the ground: on October 6th, at Prague castle, 44 leaders of countries from Ireland to Azerbaijan will gather for the forum’s first meeting. Few can tell for certain what this new confab is or might become, but all seem minded to give it a chance.