Canadian prime minister to join European leaders in Armenia

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Armenia next week to take part in the European Political Community (EPC) summit, alongside European leaders. According to the European Commission, he will be the first non-European head of government to attend the forum since its launch in 2022.

The gathering in Yerevan will be held under the theme “Building the Future: Unity and Resilience in Europe”. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening democratic resilience, improving connectivity and bolstering economic and energy security. Leaders will explore ways to deepen cooperation and coordinate actions to create a more secure and united European space.

All 27 EU member states have been invited, along with partner countries including Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan recently said that neither Baku nor Ankara had yet responded to invitations.

The EPC was established in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with summits held twice a year in both EU and non-EU countries. Previous hosts include the Czech Republic, Moldova and Albania. Following Yerevan, the next meeting is scheduled to be held in Ireland in November.