On Friday, 27 October, the European Council lent its support to the process of normalising relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, known as the “Brussels Process”, and called on the parties to engage “in good faith” and to complete this process “by the end of this year”.
The meeting between President of the European Council Charles Michel and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan—[originally] announced for the end of October—is [now] expected to take place in November. The parties are in contact, according to a European source.
The adopted conclusions emphasise that the European Council continues to “support for advancing a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity”.
“We will be vigilant so as to ensure that the 1991 borders are respected”, warned French President Emmanuel Macron.
The leaders also stressed the importance of ensuring the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, “including those who wish to return to their homes”. More than 100,000 people have sought refuge in Armenia.
Furthermore, the European Council has invited the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and the European Commission to present “options on how best to strengthen EU-Armenia relations in all their dimensions”.
See the European Council’s conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/9b5 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)