← Previous revision Revision as of 17:43, 2 May 2026 Line 26: Line 26: == Background == == Background == [[Armenia]] was announced as the host of the 8th summit of the [[European Political Community]] on 23 May 2025, following the [[7th European Political Community Summit]] held on 2 October 2025 in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], chaired by [[Mette Frederiksen]], [[Prime Minister of Denmark]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://x.com/NikolPashinyan/status/1925908289583227212 |title=Thrilled to announce Armenia will host the 8th EPC summit in spring 2026 |website=Prime Minister of Armenia X account |date=23 May 2025}}</ref>. The [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia]], [[Nikol Pashinyan]] announced that the 8th summit of the [[European Political Community]] (EPC) would be held on Monday 4 May 2026 in [[Yerevan]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231198 |title=Armenia to host 8th European Political Community Summit in May, 2026 |website=Armenpress |date=2 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2025/10/02/Nikol-Pashinyan-Speech/ |title=Address by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the closing session of the European Political Community Summit |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=2 October 2025}}</ref>. Alongside the 8th EPC summit, [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]] will host three parallel high‑level events between 4 and 5 May 2026, including the inaugural EU-Armenia bilateral summit, the state visit of the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], and the Yerevan Dialogue forum<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/1571853144597421/?__cft__[0]=AZZrI2NGCyytl4wl_cgbHnUvNGirz_rea2YK6HsTIURi89c9ukN552lZCRJ5Lc2aT-T1cFokqkf4s9WLAQAtKA9rgB0n7Xpsk2mLCwTIaX0COmzBrMPEFGwf7mBKmS0E4EiMVmjiSphtpYN14PjnMRWzAJ5SgYSC2BFqEZWP7ZIj1WiFMIXgRPq4dE0Lf6O9YkTUfiGDtI3w4k0f61uCHcjN&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |title=Events in Yerevan on 4–5 May 2026 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=29 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2026/03/26/Armenia_EU/13853 |title=The inaugural Armenia–European Union Summit will take place on 4 and 5 May 2026 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1236622|title=First Armenia–EU summit to be held in Yerevan in 2026|date=December 2, 2025|website=Armenpress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Website of Yerevan Dialogue forum |url=https://yerevandialogue.com |website=Yerevan Dialogue forum |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. The [[European Parliament]] resolution of 30 April 2026 on supporting democratic resilience in [[Armenia]] (2026/2701(RSP)) welcomes the holding of the eighth EPC summit and the first ever EU-Armenia summit in [[Yerevan]] on 4 and 5 May 2026 as an exceptional and historic milestone, considers that the consecutive hosting of both summits in Yerevan sends an unambiguous political signal of [[pan-European]] solidarity with [[Armenia]] and of the EU’s commitment to supporting [[Armenia]]’s peace, reform and resilience agenda, and calls on EU and Armenian leaders to use this opportunity to develop ambitious and concrete deliverables<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0162_EN.pdf|title=European Parliament resolution of 30 April 2026 on supporting democratic resilience in Armenia (2026/2701(RSP))|website=European Parliament |date=30 April 2026}}</ref>. At the first ever EU-Armenia summit, the President of the [[European Council]], [[António Costa]], together with the President of the [[European Commission]], [[Ursula von der Leyen]], will represent the EU, and the Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] will represent [[Armenia]]<ref name="smt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/26/first-ever-eu-armenia-summit-to-take-place-on-4-and-5-may-2026|title=First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026|website=Council of the European Union |date=26 March 2026}}</ref>.The [[state visit]] of the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]] will take place shortly after the solemn opening ceremony of the new building of the Embassy of Armenia in France, held in [[Paris]] on 28 April 2026 with the participation of [[Armenia]]’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Ararat Mirzoyan]], and [[France]]’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, [[Jean-Noël Barrot]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/press-release/item/2026/04/30/Anons/ |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Opening Ceremony of the New Building of the Embassy of Armenia in France Took Place in Paris |url=https://www.facebook.com/MFA.Armenia/posts/pfbid0duBmC12UQWytTb31XSX8CzHupuuXZHAmdwh6vgDZfjaHG1DwQjrxwYgwycu7yw9tl?__cft__[0]=AZahcWeyWCah1TtMBzP1oYpHS5f2dsw2G_lhNsfnlclIq5yXBuNb1IUwCQU0roZZxPYq5q-hJIccl60cOxIw0JOqp_wbV411nu8l6yExtReVM4q-h18wQeXz7TzSVsToa8gOdL1-lgZIXU77MsbHGD0uDcbGPrcB09aaai6MdzNiK3dyWwqjAt6lFruv3pGkDrg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=29 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambassade d'Arménie en France |url=https://www.facebook.com/ambassadearmenie/ |website=Embassy of Armenia in France |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meeting between the Armenian and French Foreign Ministers at the opening of the new Armenian Embassy in France |url=https://www.facebook.com/MFA.Armenia/posts/pfbid0256xr2i9rdgqjCmpRxK9j65YB8qN17zYABBq2EpkTHBfQDmeU2hkVUrF8dS8B3fXLl?__cft__[0]=AZZhhXQAkfiY2RoqPraKrawBnbFFBD0kWIqYE8eqKWEJt9rez__n2pmTrmFpM5tUa3Zp3Aa-8UdKejueuMCM8pTJfJpjsuYGRa6T0VkrgBv29Knx16mWmmUqfScYW47EMD2hrgJkZzCWn2qRxZ72C67RJhGl3kv47TSBYrJgrs4lGIImLJy5HHm9U3En4qqyOX4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. As part of the state visit, the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], accompanied by the [[Prime Minister of Armenia]], will sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement, visit [[Tsitsernakaberd]] and the [[Matenadaran]], meet with the [[President of Armenia]], [[Vahagn Khachaturyan]], travel to [[Gyumri]] to honour the memory of the victims of the [[1988 Armenian earthquake|1988 earthquake]], and conclude the visit with the concert titled "Musical Bridge: Armenia-France" in [[Gyumri]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/press-release/item/2026/04/30/Anons/ |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. EU relations with [[Armenia]] are based on the [[EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement]] (CEPA), effective since 2021, and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership, adopted in 2025<ref name="smt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/26/first-ever-eu-armenia-summit-to-take-place-on-4-and-5-may-2026|title=First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026|website=Council of the European Union |date=26 March 2026}}</ref>. [[Armenia]] was announced as the host of the 8th summit of the [[European Political Community]] on 23 May 2025, following the [[7th European Political Community Summit]] held on 2 October 2025 in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], chaired by [[Mette Frederiksen]], [[Prime Minister of Denmark]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://x.com/NikolPashinyan/status/1925908289583227212 |title=Thrilled to announce Armenia will host the 8th EPC summit in spring 2026 |website=Prime Minister of Armenia X account |date=23 May 2025}}</ref>. The [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia]], [[Nikol Pashinyan]] announced that the 8th summit of the [[European Political Community]] (EPC) would be held on Monday 4 May 2026 in [[Yerevan]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231198 |title=Armenia to host 8th European Political Community Summit in May, 2026 |website=Armenpress |date=2 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2025/10/02/Nikol-Pashinyan-Speech/ |title=Address by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the closing session of the European Political Community Summit |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=2 October 2025}}</ref>. Alongside the 8th EPC summit, [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]] will host three parallel high‑level events between 4 and 5 May 2026, including the inaugural EU-Armenia bilateral summit, the state visit of the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], and the Yerevan Dialogue forum<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/1571853144597421/?__cft__[0]=AZZrI2NGCyytl4wl_cgbHnUvNGirz_rea2YK6HsTIURi89c9ukN552lZCRJ5Lc2aT-T1cFokqkf4s9WLAQAtKA9rgB0n7Xpsk2mLCwTIaX0COmzBrMPEFGwf7mBKmS0E4EiMVmjiSphtpYN14PjnMRWzAJ5SgYSC2BFqEZWP7ZIj1WiFMIXgRPq4dE0Lf6O9YkTUfiGDtI3w4k0f61uCHcjN&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |title=Events in Yerevan on 4–5 May 2026 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=29 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2026/03/26/Armenia_EU/13853 |title=The inaugural Armenia–European Union Summit will take place on 4 and 5 May 2026 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1236622|title=First Armenia–EU summit to be held in Yerevan in 2026|date=December 2, 2025|website=Armenpress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Website of Yerevan Dialogue forum |url=https://yerevandialogue.com |website=Yerevan Dialogue forum |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. The [[European Parliament]] resolution of 30 April 2026 on supporting democratic resilience in [[Armenia]] (2026/2701(RSP)) welcomes the holding of the eighth EPC summit and the first ever [[2026 EU-Armenia Summit|EU-Armenia summit]] in [[Yerevan]] on 4 and 5 May 2026 as an exceptional and historic milestone, considers that the consecutive hosting of both summits in Yerevan sends an unambiguous political signal of [[pan-European]] solidarity with [[Armenia]] and of the EU’s commitment to supporting [[Armenia]]’s peace, reform and resilience agenda, and calls on EU and Armenian leaders to use this opportunity to develop ambitious and concrete deliverables<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0162_EN.pdf|title=European Parliament resolution of 30 April 2026 on supporting democratic resilience in Armenia (2026/2701(RSP))|website=European Parliament |date=30 April 2026}}</ref>. At the first ever [[2026 EU-Armenia Summit|EU-Armenia summit]], the President of the [[European Council]], [[António Costa]], together with the President of the [[European Commission]], [[Ursula von der Leyen]], will represent the EU, and the Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] will represent [[Armenia]]<ref name="smt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/26/first-ever-eu-armenia-summit-to-take-place-on-4-and-5-may-2026|title=First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026|website=Council of the European Union |date=26 March 2026}}</ref>.The [[state visit]] of the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]] will take place shortly after the solemn opening ceremony of the new building of the Embassy of Armenia in France, held in [[Paris]] on 28 April 2026 with the participation of [[Armenia]]’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Ararat Mirzoyan]], and [[France]]’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, [[Jean-Noël Barrot]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/press-release/item/2026/04/30/Anons/ |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Opening Ceremony of the New Building of the Embassy of Armenia in France Took Place in Paris |url=https://www.facebook.com/MFA.Armenia/posts/pfbid0duBmC12UQWytTb31XSX8CzHupuuXZHAmdwh6vgDZfjaHG1DwQjrxwYgwycu7yw9tl?__cft__[0]=AZahcWeyWCah1TtMBzP1oYpHS5f2dsw2G_lhNsfnlclIq5yXBuNb1IUwCQU0roZZxPYq5q-hJIccl60cOxIw0JOqp_wbV411nu8l6yExtReVM4q-h18wQeXz7TzSVsToa8gOdL1-lgZIXU77MsbHGD0uDcbGPrcB09aaai6MdzNiK3dyWwqjAt6lFruv3pGkDrg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=29 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambassade d'Arménie en France |url=https://www.facebook.com/ambassadearmenie/ |website=Embassy of Armenia in France |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meeting between the Armenian and French Foreign Ministers at the opening of the new Armenian Embassy in France |url=https://www.facebook.com/MFA.Armenia/posts/pfbid0256xr2i9rdgqjCmpRxK9j65YB8qN17zYABBq2EpkTHBfQDmeU2hkVUrF8dS8B3fXLl?__cft__[0]=AZZhhXQAkfiY2RoqPraKrawBnbFFBD0kWIqYE8eqKWEJt9rez__n2pmTrmFpM5tUa3Zp3Aa-8UdKejueuMCM8pTJfJpjsuYGRa6T0VkrgBv29Knx16mWmmUqfScYW47EMD2hrgJkZzCWn2qRxZ72C67RJhGl3kv47TSBYrJgrs4lGIImLJy5HHm9U3En4qqyOX4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. As part of the state visit, the [[President of France]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], accompanied by the [[Prime Minister of Armenia]], will sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement, visit [[Tsitsernakaberd]] and the [[Matenadaran]], meet with the [[President of Armenia]], [[Vahagn Khachaturyan]], travel to [[Gyumri]] to honour the memory of the victims of the [[1988 Armenian earthquake|1988 earthquake]], and conclude the visit with the concert titled "Musical Bridge: Armenia-France" in [[Gyumri]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia |url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/press-release/item/2026/04/30/Anons/ |website=Prime Minister of Armenia |date=30 April 2026 |access-date=2 May 2026}}</ref>. EU relations with [[Armenia]] are based on the [[EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement]] (CEPA), effective since 2021, and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership, adopted in 2025<ref name="smt">{{Cite news|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/26/first-ever-eu-armenia-summit-to-take-place-on-4-and-5-may-2026|title=First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026|website=Council of the European Union |date=26 March 2026}}</ref>. ==Aims== ==Aims== Line 40: Line 40: ==Schedule and agenda== ==Schedule and agenda== The summit is scheduled to take place on Monday 04 May 2026 at the [[Karen Demirchyan Complex]] in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]]. An official statement issued by the [[Police of the Republic of Armenia]] on 01 May 2026, operating under the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia]], announced that security and traffic‑control measures would be in place from 4 to 5 May 2026 for the 8th EPC summit The summit is scheduled to take place on Monday 04 May 2026 at the [[Karen Demirchyan Complex]] in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]]. An official statement issued by the [[Police of the Republic of Armenia]] on 01 May 2026, operating under the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia]], announced that security and traffic‑control measures would be in place from 4 to 5 May 2026 for the 8th EPC summit and the 1st EU-Armenia summit, considered unprecedented since Armenia’s independence owing to the scale of the anticipated high‑level attendance<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1248984 |title=Street closures planned in Yerevan for European Political Community Summit, 1 May 2026 |website=Armenpress |date=1 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/www.police.am/posts/pfbid093YLGt5DJdKzdHhcoTXUY2tKU8WXJFZGespT3QgPkGPRNeTP91xPSArPgR62a6gMl?__cft__[0]=AZbcXUSiA-9Zr5R9RfRFvMWNMXUWCakDMbCEX-RnDjPNYrU0NGng4yMPFLVhQncfECGO9dcaQfvDDtDS_j5RiojqzLGES-6ZmuwOtaSbB51ZMYCIqsUCiVOdvv1DWgO8x8AAyCLIU3_PEsKo4j6Yu5Ltzk3muzVTg8cItz5Epmkn-Q&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |title=Traffic restrictions planning as part of the organisation of the 8th EPC summit, 1 May 2026 |website=Police of the Republic of Armenia |date=1 May 2026}}</ref>. and the 1st [[2026 EU-Armenia Summit|EU-Armenia summit]], considered unprecedented since Armenia’s independence owing to the scale of the anticipated high‑level attendance<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1248984 |title=Street closures planned in Yerevan for European Political Community Summit, 1 May 2026 |website=Armenpress |date=1 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/www.police.am/posts/pfbid093YLGt5DJdKzdHhcoTXUY2tKU8WXJFZGespT3QgPkGPRNeTP91xPSArPgR62a6gMl?__cft__[0]=AZbcXUSiA-9Zr5R9RfRFvMWNMXUWCakDMbCEX-RnDjPNYrU0NGng4yMPFLVhQncfECGO9dcaQfvDDtDS_j5RiojqzLGES-6ZmuwOtaSbB51ZMYCIqsUCiVOdvv1DWgO8x8AAyCLIU3_PEsKo4j6Yu5Ltzk3muzVTg8cItz5Epmkn-Q&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |title=Traffic restrictions planning as part of the organisation of the 8th EPC summit, 1 May 2026 |website=Police of the Republic of Armenia |date=1 May 2026}}</ref>. The schedule and agenda of the 8th EPC summit will be as follows:<ref name="epc">{{Cite news |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2026/05/04/epc/ |title=Meeting of the European Political Community, 4 May 2026 |website=Council of the European Union |date=28 April 2026}}</ref> The schedule and agenda of the 8th EPC summit will be as follows:<ref name="epc">{{Cite news |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2026/05/04/epc/ |title=Meeting of the European Political Community, 4 May 2026 |website=Council of the European Union |date=28 April 2026}}</ref>