LONDON — Trust one of the European Union’s most senior politicians to spare Brexit Britain’s blushes.
After French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest world leader to snub Rishi Sunak’s much-hyped global artificial intelligence event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to give the Brits at least one big EU cheese besides Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to parade around Bletchley Park next week.
The German politician will attend next week’s event, according to two EU officials who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about von der Leyen’s plans.
“The President hopes to be able to go and attend the Summit,” a European Commission press officer told POLITICO, adding that Brussels would confirm Von der Leyen’s agenda Friday.
One consideration driving a potential trip across the Channel for the Commission president, according to two EU officials, one of whom is cited above, is for Von der Leyen to show support after the United Kingdom rejoined the EU’s Horizon research program, the officials said. That’s especially true as London has coughed up billions of pounds that will inevitably be spent across the 27-country bloc.
British Prime Minister Sunak announced the summit, set to address gravest risks of the emerging technology on November 1 and 2 in Bletchley Park, after a meeting with United States President Joe Biden back in June.
But getting world leaders on board since has been a struggle.
Biden himself was an early confirmed no-show, with the U.S. sending his VP Kamala Harris instead. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also unlikely to attend, while Germany’s Olaf Scholz is yet to decide, according to his office. Japan is exploring the possibility of virtual attendance, according to a Japanese diplomat.
On Thursday, an Élysée official confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend. He will be in central Asia at the time of the summit.
The lack of star names at the summit could prove awkward for Sunak, who will be keen to use the summit to burnish his reputation on the world stage after a bruising set of by-election losses to the resurgent opposition Labour Party last week.