President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen outlined the priority areas of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, on which agreements were reached and documents were signed during the first Armenia–EU Summit held Tuesday in Yerevan.

“Armenia has long been a valuable member of the broader European family. The peaceful Velvet Revolution in 2018 demonstrated your country’s commitment to European values — democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. Today, I would like to reaffirm our strong support for Armenia. We are living in a rapidly changing context, and the first Armenia–EU Summit, held in this challenging environment, is more timely than ever. It provides a good opportunity to deepen our ties and elevate our unique partnership to a new level, and that is exactly what we will do,” said the President of the European Commission during a press conference after the summit.

She outlined the key areas for deepening cooperation between Armenia and the European Union.

“The first area is connectivity. We have just signed a Connectivity Partnership document, which elevates our cooperation to a new level. The first pillar of this area is transport. Very few countries are as uniquely positioned as Armenia. Your ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative has the potential to connect Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia, turning Armenia into a key transport hub. We are already ready to work on upgrading border crossing points once borders with neighboring countries are opened. We know how important it is for Armenia to be well integrated into regional transport networks, which is why we will support your integration into key transport corridors such as the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which is also of strategic importance for Europe. That is why today we are launching a high-level dialogue on transport. Transport and mobility are driving forces that enhance competitiveness,” said the President of the European Commission.

As the second pillar of cooperation on connectivity, von der Leyen highlighted the energy sector.

“The development of solar energy in Armenia is significant. It is a clear sign of diversification in Armenia’s energy sector and of crucial importance, especially in light of the energy crisis we are all facing today,” said the President of the European Commission.

She added that the European Union will promote Armenia’s energy security, taking into account its valuable renewable resources. According to her, €25 million will be invested in the Caucasus electricity network for the construction of energy storage facilities to ensure the security of energy supply.

The next pillar, von der Leyen said, is the information technology sector. “Armenia has an impressive ecosystem in artificial intelligence and engineering. This is a strong asset, and we want to build on it. Together, we have identified several projects, and in this room we witnessed the signing of several letters of intent with leading Armenian companies. We are encouraging European companies to invest here, where there is strong human capital and significant opportunities,” she noted.

According to von der Leyen, the next priority is stronger cooperation in the field of security. “Under the European Peace Facility, we support Armenia’s Armed Forces, but Armenia must also confront hybrid threats, interference, and the manipulation of the information space. Our partnership will help you withstand these threats. One thing is clear: the only legitimate source of power in this country is the will of the Armenian people,” she said.

Another priority, according to von der Leyen, is work toward visa liberalization. “Visa liberalization is a priority that is deeply important to the Armenian people. As we seek to bring our societies closer together, we are pleased to present the first progress report. Congratulations — it is very positive. Good work has been done and progress has been made since last November, and we are fully confident that we will achieve this. Today we are also approving working arrangements between FRONTEX and Armenia, which will strengthen cooperation in border management and migration flows,” said Ursula von der Leyen.

She added that another priority is economic support and social resilience. Von der Leyen recalled that two years ago the “Resilience and Growth” plan was launched, under which €270 million has been allocated to Armenia. She highlighted the successful implementation of the program, noting that an additional €2.5 billion in investments is expected to be mobilized within its framework.

“We are helping Armenian businesses access new markets and grow, investing in skills development and employment, as well as in demining, which is vital for safety and security. We are also providing much-needed support to those displaced from Karabakh, including housing,” Ursula von der Leyen concluded.