Almost 50 leaders from across wider Europe are to arrive in Moldova for a summit focused on the continent’s multiple security issues, ranging from the war in Ukraine to an ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and rising tensions in the Balkans.

The second European Political Community summit will take place on Thursday just 8km from a Russian-controlled separatist enclave and 21km from the Ukrainian border — marking the acute insecurity on Europe’s periphery and the challenges posed to EU and Nato powers over how to tackle it.

“It’s a complicated time, but that’s exactly why the EPC is needed and necessary, for Europe to come together and share the weight of solving these problems,” said Nicu Popescu, Moldova’s deputy premier and foreign minister.