The European Political Community is a bi-annual forum - initiated in 2022 by French President Emmanuel Macron, following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is aimed at promoting dialogue and cooperation in the region and beyond. In addition to the 27 EU countries, its members include Turkey, Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
This year's European Political Community (EPC) summit in Armenia is held under the theme "Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe".
48 heads of state and government have been invited, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and several other leaders from EU countries, as well as top officials from the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Balkans, and the South Caucasus.
For the first time, a non-European country will also participate in the EPC forum: Canada, represented by its Prime Minister Mark Carney.
On Sunday, the day before the summit, the leaders will be hosted at a gala dinner by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
On Monday, the invited group will deliberate, under the chairmanship of Pashinyan and European Council President Antonio Costa, in a plenary session and separate panels.
The topics include regional challenges, ways to tighten cooperation and coordinate efforts to strengthen democratic resilience, means to develop connectivity, and ideas for improving economic and energy security. The summit will also be an opportunity for bilateral meetings between leaders.
In a letter to the summit participants, Prime Minister Pashinyan indicated that the forum would discuss a shared vision of a secure, united, and peaceful Europe.
"For Armenia, the summit represents a milestone in our cooperation with European partners, but also an opportunity to reaffirm our strong and unwavering commitment to democratic values and the rule of law"
- Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized.
On June 7, Armenia will hold parliamentary elections, viewed in the West as another arena for confrontation between pro-European and pro-Russian forces.
In March 2025, Armenia adopted a law initiating the process of accession to the European Union - but has not yet submitted a formal application for membership. At the same time, the country maintains strong economic relations with Russia, although political ties between the countries have somewhat loosened in recent years.
The first European Union-Armenia summit will be held in Yerevan immediately after the EPC forum, where the EU will be represented by, among others, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
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Source: PAP, IAR, PolskieRadio24