EU–Armenia Summit marks “historic milestone” in deepening ties, António Costa says

European Council President António Costa hailed the first-ever EU–Armenia summit in Yerevan as a “historic milestone” in relations between the European Union and Armenia, praising Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his leadership and commitment to democratic reforms and regional peace.

Speaking at a joint press conference following the summit, Costa congratulated Pashinyan on hosting both the summit and the European Political Community gathering held in Armenia, describing them as “remarkable achievements.” He also thanked the Armenian government for its “generous and exceptional hospitality.”

Costa said the summit reflected the significant progress made in recent years in strengthening ties between Armenia and the European Union and underscored a shared ambition to deliver “tangible benefits” for citizens, businesses and societies.

“You didn’t change the place of Armenia, but you changed radically the conditions of your country,” Costa said, commending Pashinyan’s vision for a “democratic, resilient and prosperous Armenia.”

The European Council president reaffirmed the EU’s support for Armenia’s socio-economic reform agenda through technical and financial assistance. He also praised the Armenian leadership for prioritizing peace and regional stability.

Costa pointed to the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the European Political Community summit as evidence of a “new atmosphere” between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“A stable and prosperous South Caucasus is the bedrock of Armenia’s future,” Costa stated, adding that the European Union would continue supporting peace and normalization efforts in the region.

Highlighting the EU’s role as a long-term partner for Armenia and the wider South Caucasus, Costa emphasized the importance of stronger transport, energy and digital connectivity to foster economic growth, trust and regional cooperation.

He also stressed the EU’s commitment to supporting Armenia’s resilience and security, noting that the newly established European Union Partnership Mission in Armenia would help strengthen crisis response capacities and contribute to the country’s long-term stability.

Concluding his remarks, Costa underlined the progress achieved through cooperation between Armenia and the EU and said shared goals of stability, democracy, peace and prosperity would continue to guide bilateral relations in the years ahead.