I would like to warmly thank Prime Minister Pashinyan for hosting us here in Yerevan for the Summit of the European Political Community. And I would also like to thank you all for coming in presence and President Aliyev to be here with us by videoconference.
Today’s EPC Summit is truly historic. It is historic because for the first time the EPC meets here, in the South Caucasus; and because it places Armenia in the heart of Europe, which is exactly where it belongs – in light of its long and rich history.
It is historic, because today’s Summit has been made possible by the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; that agreement is a story of peace in Europe that must be celebrated, in a world where escalation and war seem to dominate. Thanks to this agreement, and improved relations between Tukey and Armenia, the region has embarked on a transformative path. Inter-connected strategic industries, markets, transport corridors, digital networks, and energy interconnections – they do more than move goods, data, electricity, and people. They build trust, create jobs, and bind neighbours together through practical cooperation and shared growth. And the European Union stands ready to be a reliable partner in turning this vision into reality.
To ensure the irreversibility of this momentum for opportunities for peace and prosperity, it is vital to strengthen Armenian democracy and fight external interference and disinformation. The future of Armenian democracy lies in the hands of Armenian citizens only.
There is a third reason why today’s Summit is historic: for the very first time, we have invited a non-European guest, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to participate in a Summit of the European Political Community.
The geopolitical situation Europe finds itself in – with the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East – demonstrates that our continent needs a 360º degree vision for its security.
In a world of growing chaos, that vision must be guided by one clear, overarching principle: Europe must be at the forefront of the defence of the rules-based international order, anchored in the UN Charter as the main pillar of multilateralism.
But the world of today is not just marked by growing instability. There is a second important trend: the world’s increasing multipolarity. This is a trend that requires multipolar partnership to promote sustainable peace and to ensure shared prosperity. On all these levels, Canada is more than like-minded, it is a close partner:
- Canada shares Europe’s 360º degree, global vision of security
- Canada wants to build, together with us, a principles-based international order, anchored in international law and international humanitarian law
- And Canada is a champion of multilateralism, with the UN system at its heart
And Prime Minister Carney is an outspoken advocate of multipolar partnership. Therefore, it is very fitting that Canada is the first-ever non-European guest of an EPC Summit – welcome, Mark, you are among friends here.
But the EPC is about more than just building a common, European, principled vision for peace and prosperity. It is also about turning that vision into reality. On energy, on connectivity, on democratic resilience – the themes of this year’s roundtables.
And I am glad that again, like in previous Summits, the EPC will be a catalyst for action. Action in support of Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia. And also, in building a European Coalition against Drugs. I would like to thank Emmanuel and Giorgia for further advancing this important initiative.
I would like to end where I started, by thanking Prime Minister Pashinyan. For hosting us today, but also – in fact, mainly – for the courageous political decisions he has taken to bring Armenia closer to the European Union. The direction of travel is unmistakable and an important milestone on that path is tomorrow’s first-ever EU-Armenia Summit, right here in Yerevan. And that is worth celebrating. But today is about the European Political Community. And I wish you all a successful meeting.