EU seeks deeper ties with Armenia, including in security and connectivity

The EU seeks to deepen political dialogue with Armenia across various fields, including security, trade, and regional connectivity, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said at a press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Strasbourg.

When asked by Armenpress about the prospects for deepening Armenia–EU ties, given the European Parliament’s ongoing support for Armenia’s democracy, Metsola pointed out that there is a strong commitment on the part of both the European Union and Armenia to strengthen relations.

“We welcome Armenia’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary ties, and there is an ongoing political dialogue in this regard. We genuinely want to deepen our relations in the fields of security, trade, and regional connectivity, and we have been emphasizing this within our institution for years,” the European Parliament president said.

Metsola highlighted that the level of relations with Armenia has increased significantly over the years.

“In line with the recent commitment of our Armenian friends, we want to further deepen our relations. This is why we wanted to invite the Armenian Prime Minister here today. Within our mandate, this is only the first step. Next week, the EU–Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee will hold its session, and in May, for the first time in history, the Armenia–EU summit will take place in Yerevan,” Metsola added.

Referring to the European Parliament’s potential increased presence in Armenia, she noted that such decisions are made by the Parliament’s Bureau.

“A few months ago, we decided to open an office in Moldova, which will cover the entire Eastern Partnership region, including Armenia. In this regard, we fully reaffirm our commitment to all our Eastern Partnership partners,” Metsola emphasized.