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8th European Political Community Summit

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Main article: European Political Community
8th European Political Community Summit
Host countryArmenia
Date4 May 2026
MottoBuilding the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe
CitiesYerevan
VenuesKaren Demirchyan Complex
Participants48 countries[1]
ChairNikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia
Follows7th
Precedes9th
Websiteepcyerevan2026.am

The 8th Summit of the European Political Community was held on 4 May 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia. The European Political Community is an intergovernmental forum that facilitates political and strategic dialogue about the future of Europe.

Background

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Armenia was announced as the host of the 8th summit of the European Political Community on 23 May 2025, following the 7th European Political Community Summit held on 2 October 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark[2]. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan announced that the summit would be held on Monday, 4 May 2026, in Yerevan[3][4].

The 8th EPC summit was expected to be the largest international political event hosted by Armenia since its independence, with 48 heads of state and government from member states and partner countries expected to attend, together with invited delegates. Alongside the 8th EPC summit, three other high‑level events were planned on 4 and 5 May 2026, including the inaugural EU-Armenia bilateral summit, the state visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Yerevan Dialogue international forum[5][6][7].

At the first ever EU-Armenia summit, the President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU, and the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent Armenia[8].

The event comes at an important moment for Armenia, given the Joint Declaration reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan on 8 August 2025 in the presence of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, which has been further welcomed by the EU[8], their joint support for Armenia's Crossroads of Peace initiative[9][10][11][12][13] and the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) connectivity project in the territory of Armenia[14][15][16], as well as the alignment with two EPC strategic topics, including advancing connectivity and addressing evolving security dynamics and regional challenges[17][14][18][11].

A state visit by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will take place shortly after the solemn opening ceremony of the new building of the Embassy of Armenia in France, held in Paris on 28 April 2026 with the participation of Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, and France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot[19][20][21][22]. As part of the state visit, Macron, accompanied by the Prime Minister of Armenia, will formalize a strategic partnership[23], visit Tsitsernakaberd and the Matenadaran, meet with the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, travel to Gyumri to honour the memory of the victims of the 1988 earthquake, and conclude the visit with the concert titled "Musical Bridge: Armenia-France" in Gyumri[24].

EU relations with Armenia are based on the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), effective since 2021, and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership[25], adopted in 2025[8].

Aims

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The 8th EPC summit is to focus on four strategic topics:[1][26]

  • Strengthening democratic resilience
  • Advancing connectivity
  • Reinforcing economic and energy security
  • Addressing evolving security dynamics and regional challenges

Schedule and agenda

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The summit was scheduled to take place on Monday 04 May 2026 at the Karen Demirchyan Complex in Yerevan, Armenia. An official statement issued by the Police of the Republic of Armenia on 01 May 2026, operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, announced that security and traffic‑control measures would be in place from 4 to 5 May 2026 for the 8th EPC summit, the 1st EU-Armenia summit, the state visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Yerevan Dialogue international forum, considered unprecedented since Armenia's independence owing to the scale of the anticipated high‑level attendance[27][28].

Attendees

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Participating member states, partner countries and invited delegates

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Countries participating in the European Political Community
Family photo of the 8th European Political Community Summit

The summit was attended by the heads of state and government of the member states and partner countries participating in the European Political Community, together with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, was the first representative to attend from a non-European country."Meeting of the European Political Community, 4 May 2026". Council of the European Union. 28 April 2026.</ref>[29]. Among the invited delegates, the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will travel to Yerevan to attend the 8th EPC summit and are expected to hold multiple bilateral meetings with leaders present at the EPC, including with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan[30][31] Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev did not attend the summit in person but gave remarks via video link.[32]

Participating member states and partner countries
Legend
IP Invited and present
H Host
IB Invited but absent
Member states and partner countries Represented by / Invited Title Attendance
Albania Albania Edi Rama Prime Minister IP
Andorra Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora[33] Prime Minister IP
Armenia Armenia Nikol Pashinyan Prime Minister H
Austria Austria Christian Stocker Chancellor IB[34]
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev President IB[35][36]
Belgium Belgium Bart De Wever Prime Minister IP
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović[37] Chairman of the Presidency IP
Bulgaria Bulgaria Iliana Iotova[38] President IP
Canada Canada Mark Carney[1][39][40][41] Prime Minister IP
Croatia Croatia Andrej Plenković Prime Minister IP
Cyprus Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides President IP
Czech Republic Czech Republic Andrej Babiš[42][43] Prime Minister IP
Denmark Denmark Mette Frederiksen Prime Minister IB
Estonia Estonia Kristen Michal Prime Minister IP
European Union European Union
António Costa President of the European Council IP
Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission IP
Roberta Metsola President of the European Parliament IP
Kaja Kallas High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy IP
Finland Finland Petteri Orpo Prime Minister IP
France France Emmanuel Macron President IP
Georgia (country) Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze Prime Minister IP
Germany Germany Friedrich Merz Chancellor IB[44]
Greece Greece Konstantinos Tasoulas[45] President IP
Hungary Hungary Viktor Orbán Prime Minister IB
Iceland Iceland Kristrún Frostadóttir Prime Minister IB[46]
Republic of Ireland Ireland Micheál Martin Taoiseach IP
Italy Italy Giorgia Meloni Prime Minister IP
Kosovo Kosovo Albin Kurti[47] Prime Minister IP
Latvia Latvia Evika Siliņa Prime Minister IB
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Brigitte Haas[48] Prime Minister IP
Lithuania Lithuania Inga Ruginienė[49] Prime Minister IP
Luxembourg Luxembourg Luc Frieden[50] Prime Minister IP
Malta Malta Robert Abela Prime Minister IB
Moldova Moldova Maia Sandu President IP
Monaco Monaco Albert II[51] Sovereign Prince IP
Montenegro Montenegro Jakov Milatović President IP
Netherlands Netherlands Rob Jetten Prime Minister IB[52]
North Macedonia North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova[53] President IP
Norway Norway Jonas Gahr Støre Prime Minister IP
Poland Poland Donald Tusk Prime Minister IP
Portugal Portugal Luís Montenegro Prime Minister IB[54]
Romania Romania Nicușor Dan President IP
San Marino San Marino Luca Beccari Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs IP
Serbia Serbia Đuro Macut[55] Prime Minister IP
Slovakia Slovakia Robert Fico Prime Minister IP
Slovenia Slovenia Robert Golob Prime Minister IB
Spain Spain Pedro Sánchez[56] Prime Minister IP
Sweden Sweden Ulf Kristersson Prime Minister IB
Switzerland Switzerland Guy Parmelin[57] President IP
Turkey Turkey Cevdet Yılmaz[58] Vice President IP
Ukraine Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy[59][60] President IP
United Kingdom United Kingdom Keir Starmer[61] Prime Minister IP

Invited delegates

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Invited countries and entities Represented by Title Attendance
Council of Europe Alain Berset[31][62] Secretary General IP
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu[63] Secretary-General IP
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mark Rutte[30] Secretary General IP
United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya[64] Leader of democratic forces of Belarus[65] IP

Press releases

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This is a chronological list of press releases issued by the Government of Armenia, participating heads of state and government of the member states and partner countries as well as invited delegations.

  1. Government of Armenia. (3 May 2026). The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan receives OSCE Secretary General[66].
  2. Government of Armenia. (3 May 2026). Nikol Pashinyan, Iliana Yotova meet in Armenia. Armenia and Bulgaria sign declaration on strategic partnership[67][68]
  3. Prime Minister of Canada. (3 May 2026). Prime Minister Carney meets with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan[69].
  4. Government of Armenia. (3 May 2026). Nikol Pashinyan and Inga Ruginienė discussed the prospects for further developing Armenia-Lithuania relations.

Visits by summit participants to national sites

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This is a chronological summary of the visits made by participating leaders to sites of cultural, historical, or political significance in the host country during the summit.

  1. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand visits Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan (3 May 2026)[70]
  2. President of Greece Konstantinos Tasoulas visits Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan (3 May 2026)[71]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Meeting of the European Political Community, 4 May 2026". Council of the European Union. 28 April 2026.
  2. ^ "Thrilled to announce Armenia will host the 8th EPC summit in spring 2026". Prime Minister of Armenia X account. 23 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Armenia to host 8th European Political Community Summit in May, 2026". Armenpress. 2 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Address by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the closing session of the European Political Community Summit". Prime Minister of Armenia. 2 October 2025.
  5. ^ "The inaugural Armenia–European Union Summit will take place on 4 and 5 May 2026". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. 26 March 2026.
  6. ^ "First Armenia–EU summit to be held in Yerevan in 2026". Armenpress. 2 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Official Website of Yerevan Dialogue forum". Yerevan Dialogue forum. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  8. ^ a b c "First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026". Council of the European Union. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  9. ^ "MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia regarding the Crossroads of Peace Capacity Building Partnership" (PDF). US Department of State. 8 August 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Crossroads of Peace initiative" (PDF). Government of the Republic of Armenia. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Joint press statement following the 6th meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council". Council of the European Union. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  12. ^ "EU-Armenia relations keep deepening ahead of first-ever Summit". Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  13. ^ "European Union and Armenia adopt new Strategic Agenda to deepen partnership". Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  14. ^ a b "United States Publishes Documents from Historic Armenia and Azerbaijan Meeting". US Department of State. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  15. ^ "Joint Declaration by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on the outcomes of their meeting in Washington D.C., United States of America" (PDF). US Department of State. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  16. ^ "Joint Statement on the Publication of the U.S.-Armenia Implementation Framework for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)". US Department of State. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  17. ^ "Unprecedented deepening of partnership, Armenia–EU Summit, and Yerevan's European prospects: Interview with Ambassador Vassilis Maragos". Armenpress. 2 May 2026.
  18. ^ "The Geopolitical Maturation of the European Political Community" (PDF). French Institute of International Relations. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  19. ^ "The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia". Prime Minister of Armenia. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  20. ^ "Opening Ceremony of the New Building of the Embassy of Armenia in France Took Place in Paris". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  21. ^ "Ambassade d'Arménie en France". Embassy of Armenia in France. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  22. ^ "Meeting between the Armenian and French Foreign Ministers at the opening of the new Armenian Embassy in France". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  23. ^ "France–Armenia: Toward the Formalization of a Strategic Partnership". Yerevan Center of Foreign and Security Policy. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  24. ^ "The President of France to pay state visit to Armenia". Prime Minister of Armenia. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  25. ^ "Strategic agenda for the EU‑Armenia partnership between the European Union and Armenia" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  26. ^ "8th European Political Community Summit-Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe". 4 May 2026.
  27. ^ "Street closures planned in Yerevan for European Political Community Summit, 1 May 2026". Armenpress. 1 May 2026.
  28. ^ "Traffic restrictions planning as part of the organisation of the 8th EPC summit, 1 May 2026". Police of the Republic of Armenia. 1 May 2026.
  29. ^ "Prime Minister Carney to represent Canada for the first time at the European Political Community Summit in Armenia". Prime Minister of Canada. 28 April 2026.
  30. ^ a b "Participation by the NATO Secretary General in the 8th meeting of the European Political Community". NATO. 30 April 2026.
  31. ^ a b "Secretary General to discuss threats to democratic security in Yerevan". Council of Europe. 30 April 2026.
  32. ^ https://newsroom.consilium.europa.eu/events/20260504-eu-meeting-of-the-european-political-community-may-2026/153651-4-opening-remarks-by-president-of-azerbaijan-20260504
  33. ^ "Andorra's PM arrives in Armenia for EPC Summit". 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  34. ^ "Zwischen Russland und Trump: Europas Ruf nach Unabhängigkeit in Armenien". Der Standart (in German). Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  35. ^ "Ilham Aliyev not planning to attend EPC summit in Armenia in 2026". Sia.az - Dünya və yerli xəbərlərin tək ünvanı. 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
  36. ^ [1]
  37. ^ "EPC Summit: Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  38. ^ "President of Bulgaria arrives in Yerevan". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  39. ^ "Prime Minister Carney to represent Canada for the first time at the European Political Community Summit in Armenia". Prime Minister of Canada. 28 April 2026.
  40. ^ "Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  41. ^ "Canada's PM Mark Carney joins EPC Summit in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  42. ^ "Czech PM announces talks with Zelenskyy in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  43. ^ "Babiš se setká se Zelenským. Po cestě po Střední Asii míří na summit do Jerevanu". iDNES.cz. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  44. ^ BörsenNEWS.de (2026-05-03). "Macron vertritt Merz beim Europagipfel". www.boersennews.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-05-03.
  45. ^ "Greek President arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  46. ^ "Tekist á um næstu fjárlög Evrópusambandsins". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  47. ^ "Kosovo's PM arrives in Armenia for EPC Summit". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  48. ^ "Liechtenstein PM Brigitte Haas arrives in Armenia for EPC Summit". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  49. ^ "Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė visits Armenia for EPC Summit". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  50. ^ "Prime Minister of Luxembourg arrives in Yerevan". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  51. ^ "Prince Albert II of Monaco arrives in Yerevan". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  52. ^ "Europese gemeenschap in Armenië, landbouwministers in Cyprus en Hoekstra in Parlement". Brusselse Nieuwe (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  53. ^ "North Macedonia's President arrives in Armenia ahead of EPC Summit". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  54. ^ "Arménia recebe debate de líderes europeus sobre estabilidade face a tensões". Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  55. ^ "Serbian Prime Minister arrives in Yerevan". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  56. ^ @sanchezcastejon (May 4, 2026). "Ya en Ereván, Armenia, para participar junto a más de 45 países en la Cumbre de la Comunidad Política Europea" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  57. ^ "President Parmelin attends European Political Community summit in Armenia and pays visit to Italy and the Holy See". Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). 30 April 2026.
  58. ^ "Cumhurbaşkanı Yardımcısı Yılmaz, Ermenistan'a gidecek". Anadolu Agency. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  59. ^ "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  60. ^ "Zelenskyy arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  61. ^ "The UK will take an active part in the 8th EPC summit". British Embassy in Yerevan. 2 May 2026.
  62. ^ "Council of Europe Secretary General arrives in Armenia". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  63. ^ "OSCE Secretary General arrives in Armenia ahead of EPC Summit". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  64. ^ @Tsihanouskaya (May 4, 2026). "Fifth time at the European Political Community Summit - and first time in Armenia!" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  65. ^ "Tsikhanouskaya Sviatlana". European Parliament. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  66. ^ "The Prime Minister receives OSCE Secretary General". Prime Minister of Armenia. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  67. ^ "Nikol Pashinyan, Iliana Yotova meet in Armenia. Armenia and Bulgaria sign declaration on strategic partnership". Prime Minister of Armenia. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  68. ^ "Armenia and Bulgaria sign declaration on strategic partnership". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  69. ^ "Prime Minister Carney] meets with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan". Prime Minister of Canada. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  70. ^ "Canadian Foreign Minister visits Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan". Armenpress. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  71. ^ "Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
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