The presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will follow up their participation in the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan on 3 and 4 May with the first-ever EU-Armenia summit, held on 4 and 5 May in the Armenian capital, alongside Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The summit will serve as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the EU and Armenia, whose parliament recently passed a resolution in favour of EU membership (see EUROPE 13578/33). On Wednesday 29 April, several diplomats noted that relations between the EU and Yerevan have never been stronger (see EUROPE 13826/10). A new strategic agenda framing these relations was adopted on 2 December 2025 (see EUROPE 13764/19). “We’re doing a great deal to bring Armenia and the EU closer together, and there’s still considerable scope for unlocking the full potential of this relationship”, explained one source. This ambition could be reflected in the joint declaration expected to be published at the conclusion of the meeting.
The summit is expected provide an opportunity to develop bilateral relations around four key pillars.
The first is connectivity. In particular, the two parties are expected to launch a connectivity partnership aimed at strengthening cooperation in transport, energy and digital technology, according to a European source. On 19 March, during a visit to Armenia, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan advocated for enhanced connectivity (see EUROPE 13832/21).
The second pillar is security; on 21 April the EU established the EUPM Armenia civilian mission to assist in strengthening resilience (see EUROPE 13853/12), and it is currently supporting Armenia through the ‘European Peace Facility’.
The third pillar is home affairs and visa policy. The EU and Yerevan are currently discussing visa liberalisation for Armenian citizens (see EUROPE 13827/7). An agreement between Frontex and the Armenian Ministry is expected to be signed at the summit.
Finally, economic relations constitute the fourth pillar. Notably, the EU has set up a Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia worth €270 million for the 2024-2027 period, aimed at boosting Armenia’s socio-economic reform programme and promoting regional connectivity (see EUROPE 13714/18). At the summit, the EU is expected to launch a call for expressions of interest regarding private investment in the country.
The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as efforts to normalise relations between Yerevan and Ankara, are also expected to feature in the discussions, alongside the broader international situation, in particular the conflict in Ukraine and the global impact of the war in the Middle East.
This first-ever summit also serves as a symbol of the importance the EU attaches to Armenia, particularly as the country faces interference and hybrid attacks, attributed to Russia, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7 June (see other news).
European Political Community. Ahead of the summit, the eighth meeting of the European Political Community will be held in Yerevan on 3 and 4 May, under the motto ‘Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe’. Leaders from 48 European countries and Canada will discuss ways to cooperate more closely and coordinate action to strengthen democratic resilience and economic and energy security, and to advance connectivity. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)