On May 5, RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan arrived in the Republic of Poland on an official visit.
Papikyan visited the University of War Studies in Warsaw and met with the management staff of the institution.
The minister was presented with the structure of the educational institution, the process of organizing education, and the educational programs.
Minister Papikyan also met with RA Armed Forces soldiers studying at the university.
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French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sign strategic partnership agreement in Yerevan on May 5
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Emmanuel Macron of France signed a joint strategic partnership declaration on Tuesday as the French leader wound down his state visit to Armenia.
Macron’s state visit coincided with his participation in the European Political Community summit, which was held in Yerevan on Monday.
According to the declaration, the two countries agreed to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership based on sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.
Under the agreement, Armenia and France pledged to expand political dialogue at all levels and hold regular consultations between their foreign ministries. France also expressed support for Armenia’s closer ties with the European Union, efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, resilience and sovereignty, and initiatives aimed at increasing European investment in Armenia.
A major section of the declaration focuses on security and defense cooperation. The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in defense, military education, military-technical and military-technological fields on a long-term basis. They also pledged to continue high-level strategic dialogue between their defense institutions and expand cooperation in peacekeeping missions, including within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy.
The declaration also envisages expanded cooperation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, countering disinformation, internal security, migration and disaster risk management. Armenia and France additionally agreed to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism, organized crime and illegal trafficking.
In the economic sphere, the two countries pledged to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, transport, agriculture, healthcare, innovation, renewable energy, semiconductors, aerospace, environmental protection and financial services. The declaration also supports regional connectivity projects, including Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative and the TRIPP project, alongside the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
In his remarks at a joint press conference, Macron lavished praise on Pashinyan, saying Armenia has “consolidated its democracy” and is now “resolutely and courageously moving towards Europe.”
Macron’s admitted to endorsing Pashinyan ahead of the June 7 elections but insisted that this does not amount to the kind of foreign election meddling which the European Union accuses Russia of resorting to.
“You should distinguish between an interference that manipulates information, disrupts the democratic life of a country in a covert way and openly taking a political position,” Macron said, answering a question from a reporter. “So I commit to full support for a reliable partner of the last eight years as president of the French,” Macron said citing his support for Moldova’s president last year, when the EU deployed similar missions as it is in Armenia ahead of the eletions.
“I totally commit to defend Europe and also defend the interests of Europe and France by coming here,” he went on. “But this is not the same thing as the interference through information manipulation, media ownership, spread of false information and destabilization of the rule of law.”
The French leader said that his support for Pashinyan was not the same as manipulation through the media and falsifications, which aim to destabilize the situation in Armenia.
He added that one cannot talk about interference, because it is “overt interference,” but there is interference by foreign agents acting on the orders of Moscow and they are trying to undermine democracy.
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The works of two world-renowned French-Armenian artists, Karnig Zouloumian (Carzou) and Hovhannes Jean Semerdjian (Jansem), on May 15, 16, and 17 return to Glendale.
The exhibition is an Apple Art initiative, mounted in collaboration with the Armenian Arts Center gallery. Most of the pieces on view have never before been shown to audiences in Southern California. Together they span more than sixty years of work, from 1943 to 2008, and include originals on canvas, watercolor, and ink, alongside lithographs.
Carzou and Jansem differ sharply in style and are usually placed in two distant corners of the art world. Yet their lives ran along strikingly parallel lines; lines that, taken together, present them almost as halves of a single whole.
Both were born outside Armenia, into Western Armenian families: Carzou in Aleppo in 1907, then under the Ottoman Empire, and Jansem in 1920 in Sölöz, one of the villages of Izmir, in Kemalist Turkey.
Both also witnessed massacres at the hands of the Turks. Carzou saw the caravans of survivors, mothers and orphans who had escaped the Genocide, as they passed through Aleppo or settled there. Jansem witnessed the massacres of Greeks in Izmir and grew up hearing his mother’s accounts of the Armenian Genocide. Each, in his own time, gave voice to those wounds. Carzou spoke courageously about the Genocide in his celebrated 1979 reception speech at the Académie des Beaux-Arts (French Academy of Fine Arts), and returned to the theme when he painted the walls of the cathedral at Manosque, in southern France. Jansem, near the end of his life, donated thirty-one major works on the subject, collectively titled “Massacres,” to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Museum.
Both Zouloumian and Semerdjian lived to ninety-three, and both worked without pause. Each left behind a vast painterly legacy: thousands of works in private hands, hundreds of solo exhibitions, illustrated books, extensive travels, museums bearing their names, and a lasting presence in major art centers around the world. On several occasions, they also appeared together in group exhibitions.
Their ties to Armenia and to Armenian artists never lapsed. Both opened their Paris studios to Armenian painters, sculptors, intellectuals, and academics. Carzou’s first visit to Soviet Armenia — the reception that greeted him, the unprecedented exhibition that followed, and his encounters with Martiros Saryan, Kochar, Igityan, Minas, and others — remained vivid in the memory of Armenians for years afterward. Jansem’s first visit was no less striking and gave rise to two of his most impressive canvases: Lake Sevan and Ararat. Both painters received high honors from Armenia’s state and cultural institutions.
In their work, Zouloumian and Semerdjian took up themes that move humanity at large, each through a different prism. Carzou turned to universal questions: a painter who lived through two world wars, his brush traced the consequences of reckless armament and industrialization; devastated cities, emptied villages, abandoned harbors (and how contemporary it all still feels), degeneration, and metamorphosis. Jansem’s vision is realist: barefoot children and women, figures from small markets, fishermen, all rendered in destitution, though a destitution shot through with the search for beauty. Alongside these come religious processions, bullfights, dancers, models, masquerades, and landscapes, all of them images of everyday life.
The best way to take all of this in is to come to the Armenian Arts Center on May 15, 16, or 17, and meet these works face-to-face. Hours: Friday 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday 2 to 9 p.m., Sunday 12 to 6 p.m.. Admission is free.
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Satellite images show the systematic destruction of the Genocide Centennial bell tower in Stepanakert
Azerbaijan continues is systematic destruction of Armenian sites in occupied Artsakh. The most recent reported case of demolition is a bell tower erected on the Armenian Genocide centennial in occupied Stepanakert, Hovik Avanesov, Artsakh’s Cultural Heritage Commissioner reported.
The destruction was recorded by the Caucasus Heritage Watch, which has consistently reported on Azerbaijan’s policy to destroy traces of Armenian sites since the 2020 Artsakh War.
The bell tower, constructed out of white marble, included relics and remains from Der Zor, which is synonymous with the death marches experience by the victims of the Genocide.
Satellite data from Airbus and Planet Labs clearly demonstrate that the monument and the entire surrounding memorial complex were destroyed between July 14, 2025 and April 25, 2026. This chronology suggests a deliberate and phased operation, aimed at completely “cleansing” the area of any trace of the Armenian presence.
This latest destruction comes a week after Azerbaijan confirmed that it deliberately destroyed the Holy Mother of God Cathedral and the St. Jacob Church both in occupied Stepanakert. The Caucasus Muslim Association said in its announcement that the demolition was in line with Azerbaijan’s policies of destroying buildings that were built during what the group called “Armenian occupation.”
The European Parliament, in a resolution passed last week, condemned Azerbaijan for the destruction of cultural, religious and heritage sites in occupied Artsakh.
“This operation must be viewed in the context of international law and the protection of cultural heritage. The deliberate destruction of cultural property contradicts a number of international conventions, including those adopted under the auspices of UNESCO. However, this case shows that such actions continue, often with impunity, which encourages such acts to continue,” Avanesov said.
“Furthermore, the destruction of the monument is not only cultural, but also clearly political and ideological in nature. It aims to reshape the historical narrative of the territory, erasing evidence of the Armenian presence and creating an ‘empty’ historical space. This is a classic example of the manifestation of cultural genocide, when not only people are destroyed, but also their memory, culture and material evidence of existence,” he added.
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May 5, 2026
The breath of the Iranian conflict is gradually felt on the economy of Armenia. Economic activity is weakening. Even before the start of the conflict, the activity started to weaken, but after the conflict, the pace of weakening accelerated.
In March, compared to the previous month, the rate of economic activity slowed down by 0.6 percent, making 6.6 percent. Before that, it exceeded 7 percent, and in January it even reached 7.6 percent.
According to the data of the quarter, the economic activity dropped to 7.1 percent.
The growth rate has fallen significantly, especially in industry. In the first 2 months of the beginning of the year, there was an impression that a period of “unprecedented growth” had begun in the industry, in February the growth reached almost 24 percent. But it turned out that it is also deceptive. In March, the growth of the industry compared to the previous year dropped to 7 percent, and compared to the previous month, even a decline was registered.
It will be possible to say at the expense of which sectors in particular this sharp shift took place after the openings regarding the economic indicators are published.
Before that, it can be assumed that it was primarily due to the reduction of re-exports of some products carried out under the name of the mining industry, as well as Armenian production.
According to the data of the quarter, especially due to the high growth of the previous period, a 13.4 percent growth was recorded in the industry. It seems that it is not a bad indicator. But, when we look back and see that this happened after the 18.5 percent decline in the same period last year, the picture becomes complete.
After such sharp declines, it is not heroic to register such increases, when even the lost of the previous year could not be restored.
The state of agriculture is especially sad. Last year, when after years of decline, some increases in agriculture were recorded, they were around the world, they made a world-class noise. They praised that the programs implemented in agriculture have begun to bear fruit. Now we see the results of those programs.
Agriculture is in recession again. In the first quarter of this year, the production of agricultural products decreased by 5.2 percent.
We can only guess where the development programs implemented in agriculture have gone. At the expense of the budget, they finance various projects amounting to billions, provide subsidies, repay the interest on loans at the expense of the budget, and the results are like this. This situation proves once again that the programs implemented in agriculture are not effective, money is spent, but the result is not visible.
One year, agriculture grew a little, this year it has fallen again.
After some growth registered in February, especially as a result of the activation of the export of mineral products, foreign trade was again negative in March. Both export and import volumes have decreased. They decreased both compared to the previous year and compared to the previous month. Compared to the previous year, the drop in exports reaches almost 13 percent. Import also decreased by 3.2 percent.
These decreases occurred after the previous year’s abdication. In March of the previous year, the decline of exports exceeded 65 percent, and that of imports exceeded 51 percent.
After such sharp declines, both export and import volumes continued to decrease in March of this year.
The growth of domestic trade turnover has slowed down significantly. According to the data of the quarter, it was barely 2.1 percent, and in March it was almost zero, it increased by only 0.2 percent.
The turnover of domestic trade, particularly retail trade, has a direct relationship with citizens’ consumer demand and solvency. These small increases show that there is almost no progress in terms of the solvent demand of the citizens. And it is not by chance, if we take into account that the rates of inflation, especially food inflation, have increased significantly recently. Food inflation reached almost 8 percent in March, and food is the main commodity group that finds a place in the consumer demand of most citizens.
Like the previous few years, the main hope of Armenia’s economy and economic growth this year is construction. High growths are registered in construction, but these growths are not only systematic and stable, but also do not create much additional value. It makes no sense to talk about economic developments and improvements in the social condition of society based on such increases.
Services also continue to be one of the key sectors of economic growth, where growth often comes from the financial system, gaming business, and to some extent from the information technology sector. Of these 3, IT is certainly the most important, but the role of IT in services is not large, it is barely 7-8 percent, it is almost twice as inferior to the financial system.
At the beginning of the year, this was the picture of the activity of the Armenian economy. Its structure and sectoral distribution show that it is problematic again, it continues to be based on sectors that are not promising in terms of economic developments.
HAKOB KOCHARYAN
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May 5, 2026
During the protest action organized near the RA President’s residence, the activists addressed the European leaders who arrived in Yerevan, stating that they are happy to see them in Armenia, but not happy to see them as “part of the pre-election show of the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan”.
“Welcome to Armenia, a country where there are more than 50 political prisoners, where the so-called authorities are looting, attacking, fighting against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. You heard it right: today’s rulers in RA, which is the gate of a Christian country, have declared war on the Armenian Apostolic Church. You have come to a country where, according to official data, more than 200 square kilometers are occupied by Azerbaijan, whose children are tortured in Baku prisons. You have come to a country whose so-called authorities still don’t know how many missing people there are from our country,” declared Hayk Mamijanyan, head of the “I have honor” faction of the RA NA.
RPA Vice President Armen Ashotyan also announced that the relations between the European Union and Armenia are anchored on the SEPA signed during the third RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s reign.
“I am sorry that they have acquired such a degenerate character, where Armenia does not pursue its own interests,” said Ashotyan.
According to him, European leaders cannot be good or bad for Armenians, they can be that way for their countries and peoples.
Ashotyan recalled yesterday’s extraordinary speech of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metzola, in which she, unlike the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, responded to the accusations of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
According to him, Metzola’s speech showed what it means to be a leader who respects sovereignty and own institutions.
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May 5, 2026
The “Yerevan Dialogue” international forum is starting in Yerevan, at the opening ceremony of which speeches will be made by Nikol Pashinyan, RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, French President Emmanuel Macron and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Bercet.
The event is covered by both local and international press representatives. However, additional obstacles have been created for the work of the Armenian media.
The media arrived at the venue of the conference, “Dvin” Hotel, between 08:00 and 09:00 in the morning, and were directed to the press center, from where there is an opportunity to follow the live broadcast of the official part of the event, at this time there is no access to the halls of the event.
By the way, some employees of the MFA urged the journalists to show up at 09:00 at the latest to go through the registration process and receive the loyalty cards. However, the journalists who came to the press center in the morning do not have the opportunity to use the bathroom until at least 1:30 p.m.
Some employees of the Foreign Ministry react to journalists’ calls to provide normal, elementary conditions for work in an extremely rude, disrespectful tone, suggesting not to participate until they even leave the event.
Additional obstacles arise for videotaping the entrance of high-ranking officials to the hotel, operators are urged to leave areas where it is not possible to capture any footage.
Besides this, it is noteworthy that the international media have entered the hotel and the venue of the conference, and the journalists of the local media even have a problem of quality personnel.
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May 5, 2026
Today, on May 5, Armenia-EU joint declaration was adopted as a result of the Armenia-EU summit in Yerevan. Below we present the full text of the declaration.
«Joint statement on the results of the Armenia-European Union summit
May 5, 2026, Yerevan
We, the leaders of the Republic of Armenia (Armenia) and the European Union (EU), held the first Armenia-European Union summit in Yerevan in 2026. on May 5 and we agreed on the following.
1. Today’s summit is a historic milestone in the deepening of Armenia-EU relations. It reflects the significant achievements of recent years and the strategic importance of our partnership delivering tangible results for our citizens and businesses.
The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to further strengthen relations with Armenia and support Armenia’s sovereignty, resilience and comprehensive reform agenda based on democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, as well as long-term development, bringing Armenia and the Armenian people closer to the European Union.
The EU also encourages Armenia’s willingness to intensify bilateral partnership through sectoral integration and approximation to EU legislation.
2. The EU recognizes the European aspirations of the Armenian people, which are rooted in 2025. in March with the adoption of the law on “Starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union”, which expresses the country’s intention to move towards the EU.
3. We reaffirm that the future of Armenia must be decided in a free and democratic way by its citizens.
4. We acknowledge Armenia’s commitment to building a deep and sustainable democracy, as outlined in the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the Armenia-EU Strategic Partnership Agenda. These documents set an ambitious political framework to guide our cooperation in the coming years. In this context, it is essential to emphasize the role of civil society in monitoring the implementation of bilateral commitments.
5. We welcome the 8th Summit of the European Political Community, which was successfully held in Yerevan in 2026. on May 4.
6. Armenia and the EU are bound by common political values and commitment to the international order based on international law, the UN Charter and rules. We reaffirm the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The deepening of our bilateral relations is a contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus and beyond.
7. In this regard, we highly appreciate the efforts aimed at further institutionalizing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and guaranteeing the signing and ratification of the peace agreement. We also highly appreciate 2025. the results of the Washington summit on August 8 and the subsequent steps towards the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In addition, the EU also fully supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and the inclusive reopening of all regional communications, based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the region, as well as the indivisibility and reciprocity of borders. We highly appreciate the contribution of the EU mission to Armenia in promoting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
8. Regarding Ukraine, the parties have expressed concern about the ongoing war, which continues to cause immense human suffering and have global consequences. We support all efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and the principles of international law. The EU reiterated its principled position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
9. We discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and their ripple effects around the world. We reiterated our call for de-escalation and restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect for international law by all. Only dialogue and diplomacy can lead to de-escalation of tensions and restore peace and stability to the Middle East, in full respect of the UN Charter and international law.
10. The €270 million “Resilience and Growth Program” continues to advance Armenia’s socio-economic reform agenda, strengthen sectoral cooperation and promote investments in the energy, transport and private sectors. In order to further support the country’s reform agenda and closer approximation to the EU, 2027 may be considered. possible perspectives of future financial support.
11. Under the “Global Gateways” strategy, EU investments in Armenia are expected to reach 2.5 billion euros. Armenia and the EU are committed to promoting inclusive growth and enhanced connectivity based on mutually beneficial cooperation.
12. We welcome the Armenia-EU Connectivity Partnership and highlight the strategic importance of its three branches: transport, energy and digital, as well as people-to-people initiatives that strengthen mutual understanding, resilience of societies and links with European networks of ideas, talent and investment to further develop the Armenia-EU partnership agenda.
In this context and within the framework of the EU interregional connectivity agenda, the EU welcomes Armenia’s initiatives aimed at improving inclusive regional connectivity based on the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity, and reaffirms its support for the “Crossroads for Peace” initiative.
This shared vision contributes to the promotion of peace, stability and connectivity in the Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia while strengthening people-to-people ties. In this regard, progress in the implementation of the Trump Road to International Peace and Prosperity (TRIP) is seen as key, contributing to sustainable, secure and inclusive regional connectivity.
13. The Call for Expressions of Interest for EU/EEA companies to invest in Armenia complements the Connectivity Partnership by mobilizing private sector investment and creating mutually beneficial opportunities, including enhanced market access for EU/EEA companies, and supporting sustainable and resilient economic growth in Armenia.
14. The RA-EU high-level connectivity dialogue will provide a platform for coordinated interaction in the transport, energy and digital sectors, strengthening strategic engagement.
15. We welcome the launch of the RA-EU high-level transport dialogue, which reaffirms the strategic importance of strengthening cooperation in the transport sector in order to expand safe, efficient and sustainable transport links between Armenia and the EU. We also recognize how an expanded trans-European transport network can support Armenia’s closer connectivity with European markets and promote more integrated and diverse regional transport links.
16. The EU welcomes Armenia’s efforts to increase energy security, diversification, stability and resilience. We recognize the strategic value of regional energy connectivity as a driver of growth, resilience, stability and energy security and the potential of regional landmark initiatives of mutual interest, such as the prospects of including Armenia in the Black Sea Undersea Cable.
17. In accordance with the “First Global Study” adopted at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, we reaffirm our determination to follow through on the Paris Agreement. The EU encourages continuous reform under EU energy and climate policies, advancing the fight against the global triple crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. The EU reaffirms its readiness to support Armenia’s energy transition and integration into the European energy markets.
The EU welcomes Armenia’s intention to join the Global Energy Transition Forum and the Global Electrification Campaign, which demonstrates Armenia’s commitment to advancing the energy transition. The EU, among other things, recognizes the need to strengthen Armenia’s electricity grid, expand storage capacity and promote regional integration.
18. We reaffirm our commitment to ongoing cooperation on nuclear security. Armenia welcomes EU support in the development of the Road Map 5 for the decommissioning of the Armenian nuclear power plant, according to Armenia, by 2040. of the energy strategy and the joint goals defined by the GCC.
19. We will work together to maximize the use of the significant unrealized potential of cooperation in the digital sphere. We will explore the technical compatibility of relevant trust services frameworks with the aim of moving towards mutual recognition of electronic signatures to enhance digital cooperation and cross-border transactions.
20. The EU welcomes Armenia’s intention to join the Chips Joint Undertaking, which will facilitate wider cooperation in research and technological development and the exchange of skilled labour, enhance technological innovation and contribute to the EU’s leadership in semiconductor technology.
21. We will explore cooperation opportunities in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. This cooperation will support Armenia’s integration into the EU digital single market, guaranteeing the ethical and transparent development of AI technologies.
22. The EU welcomes Armenia’s interest in joining the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, which will promote the expansion of scientific cooperation, technological innovation and contribute to the EU’s leading role in leading computing technologies.
23. We welcome 2024. the significant progress made in the framework of the launched Visa Liberalization Dialogue, which will expand mobility, promote people-to-people contacts and strengthen economic ties between the European Union and Armenia. We emphasize the effective implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and its benchmarks, and welcome the effective implementation of the EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements.
24. We support the strengthening of cooperation with Armenia and Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and other EU agencies, as well as within the framework of the European multi-sectoral platform against criminal threats, and we are committed to further expanding our cooperation in the fields of law enforcement, border 6 management, migration management, including combating irregular migration, and justice.
25. We welcome the significant progress made in the negotiations of the working arrangement between Armenia and Frontex, with the initialization of the new text by the two negotiators. We highly appreciate the completion of the negotiations on the working agreement on cooperation between the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia and the European Prosecutor’s Office.
26. We will use the existing potential to better respond to common challenges and intensify cooperation in strengthening Armenia’s resilience. To this end, the EU and Armenia are committed to further developing, deepening and strengthening cooperation and dialogue on a range of security and defense issues, taking advantage of existing frameworks and exploring new ways of cooperation, as well as taking into account that security covers a wider range of closely related directions.
27. We appreciate the growing cooperation between the EU and Armenia to strengthen Armenia’s democratic resilience, including countering hybrid threats and external information manipulation and interference, as well as attempts to undermine trust in democratic institutions. The deployment of the EU hybrid rapid response team has made an important contribution to bilateral cooperation in this direction.
28. The establishment of an EU Partnership Mission in Armenia will further strengthen Armenia’s democratic resilience and crisis management capacity by providing advice and support to relevant institutions in Armenia.
29. We welcome two non-lethal support of €30 million to Armenia under the European Instrument for Peace, aimed at strengthening Armenia’s resilience and promoting the interoperability of armed forces for possible future participation in international missions and operations, including those conducted by the EU.
30. The EU welcomes Armenia’s interest in strengthening cooperation with the European Security and Defense College, with the aim of making relevant military and civilian educational institutions in Armenia partners of the College’s associated network.
31. In the framework of security and defense cooperation, we will promote the exchange of ideas, multilateral discussions on cyber security and resilience, preparedness and response to cyber incidents and attacks, strengthening cyber security and enhancing cyber defense.
32. We welcome the start of negotiations on the “Information Security” agreement on the exchange of confidential information and are committed to completing the negotiations on the latter as soon as possible.
33. We welcome the entry into force of the agreement defining the scope of Armenia’s participation in EU crisis management operations. In this context, we appreciate Armenia’s interest in participating in EU missions and activities. We also welcome Armenia’s increasing alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy.
34. We welcome the development and strengthening of cooperation on natural and man-made disasters with the signing of an administrative agreement on cooperation in the field of civil protection, which will facilitate a more effective exchange of information, experience and experts.
35. We are committed to continuing our close cooperation in preventing and disrupting the circumvention of EU sanctions. We will strengthen joint efforts to monitor, restrict, and control the trade and re-export of dual-use items and sensitive wartime items.
36. We welcome progress in financial and economic integration between Armenia and the EU, including possible steps to promote secure, transparent and efficient payments and financial cooperation in line with European standards.
37. The EU continues to be Armenia’s primary trading partner and investor, supporting sustainable growth, job creation and economic diversification; The Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement 8 plays a central role in strengthening this partnership. We reaffirm our commitment to work together to increase and facilitate the diversification of Armenia’s export structure, including the export of new products to the EU market.
38. The EU takes note of Armenia’s desire to move closer to conformity assessment procedures.
39. We welcome the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights between the Intellectual Property Office of Armenia and the EU Intellectual Property Office, which reflects a joint commitment to protect and promote innovation and strengthen a reliable legal framework for intellectual property in Armenia.
40. The EU welcomes Armenia’s interest in joining the EU “Customs” and “Fiscalis” programs to expand cooperation in customs and fiscal matters, moving closer to EU practice and legislation.
41. We reaffirm our strong commitment to promote reforms in areas essential to building a resilient and inclusive society, such as social policy, education, research and innovation, youth, sport, culture and health, for example through the Erasmus international direction, as well as Horizon Europe and Creative Europe.
The EU will support Armenia’s intention to participate in the media component of “Creative Europe”, which will contribute to the development of the audiovisual sector and expand cultural exchanges with the EU.
We welcome the increasing participation of Armenian youth in EU programs and activities, including the “EU for Youth” program, and look forward to their continued involvement.
42. We welcome Armenia’s accession to the Brussels Declaration on the Principles and Values of International Cooperation in Research and Innovation.
43. The EU welcomes Armenia’s interest in the “EU for Health” program (2021-2027).
44. We are ready to explore further steps to advance the Armenia-EU partnership for the benefit of our peoples and enterprises.
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May 5, 2026
During the “Yerevan Dialogue-2026” international conference, French President Emmanuel Macron considered it brave that Armenia found ways to establish peace with Azerbaijan, recalling the 2022 Prague and 2025 Washington meetings and the adopted documents.
After that, the head of France considered the moments related to Armenia more comprehensively as the moment of the South Caucasus.
“The South Caucasus should not be a place of competition between empires, which consider the region as a trophy, a prize, pitting local nations against each other. The South Caucasus can regain its central position between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. And in the South Caucasus, there are opportunities to be a crossroads in this region, to be that middle corridor,” Macron said, continuing that this means the opening of borders, particularly the Armenian-Turkish one.
In this context, the French president considered it necessary to emphasize that for a long time many people thought that the fate of Armenia was possible only under the patronage of Russia.
“The war of 2020, what you experienced, the tragedy that many families went through, saw that it was not the patronage that many imagined. We saw that Russia left Armenia, we understood that those dreams are not reality. Everyone seems to have learned that he should be a patron in the region, because the South Caucasus always seems to have to be protected by someone,” Macron emphasized, adding that the peace path chosen by Armenia is realistic and that Armenia has a European title, a European destiny.
Details in the video
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May 5, 2026
Doctor of political sciences, professor, energy security specialist Vahe Davtyan he writes on his Facebook page.
“The infrastructural dimension of the Armenia-EU joint declaration
In the joint declaration adopted as a result of the Armenia-EU summit, the sections related to critical infrastructures are at first glance presented as an agenda of development, modernization and “connectivity”. However, a more serious problem is hidden in the depths of these formulations: the gradual restructuring of infrastructural control.
Energy
The sections on energy emphasize diversification, energy transition, strengthening networks and integration with European markets. But the key issue here is not the development of energy, but which, or rather, by whose logic this development will be carried out. Diversification is presented as a reduction of dependence, but in reality it may turn into a direct shift of dependence towards European regulatory and technological systems.
The most sensitive point is nuclear energy. EU support for the road map for the decommissioning of the Armenian NPP is formulated as technical and security cooperation, but in fact it records a process whose end result is obvious: the closure of the operating nuclear unit. The question arises: what will it be replaced with? There is no clear answer about it in the declaration. This means that the basic, stable power of Armenia’s energy system is put into question, without an adequate alternative. Remember the Ignalin NPP, which was preserved after Lithuania’s accession to the EU without the creation of new capacity. As a result, Lithuania still has to import expensive electricity from Scandinavia.
And most importantly, the declaration talks about the prospect of Armenia joining the Black Sea electric cable. The latter is a joint EU-Azerbaijan initiative, which is designed to export Azerbaijani “green” energy to the European market. It is obvious that without stable generators, Armenia simply has nothing to do in that communication. It is also obvious that under the existing conditions, Baku will prevent Armenia’s connection to that cable, which is the result of Azerbaijani lobbying, in every possible way.
Transport:
The same logic applies to the transport sector of the declaration. There is talk of integration into the Trans-European networks, opening of communications, “Crossroads of Peace”. However, here it is also important to understand that Armenia is considered not so much as an entity forming an independent transport policy, but as a corridor.
In this context, the EU’s “Global Gateways” strategy is of particular importance, within the framework of which the planned investments in Armenia are estimated at up to 2.5 billion euros. This is presented as a stimulus for connectivity and infrastructural development, but in reality it is directly related to the formation of the Middle Corridor and the restructuring of Europe-Caucasus-Asia logistics chains.
The TRIPP program mentioned in the same logic, which is presented as an initiative promoting regional connectivity, actually reveals another layer. It actually strengthens the role of the US in the Middle Corridor, controlling Europe’s connections with Asia.
An obvious contradiction arises here. on the one hand, there is talk of European integration, on the other hand, the same corridor architecture is also being formed under US strategic interests, the purpose of which in this case is to actually take control of the Europe-Asia logistics connection and its possible configurations.
Under these conditions, Armenia acts not as a co-author of these processes, but as an area of their application, as a tool in the logistics system designed by external centers.
No, the Armenia-EU joint declaration is not about development. It is the political map of the phased dismantling of Armenia’s infrastructural sovereignty.”
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