The 8th European Political Community (EPC) meeting commenced in Yerevan, Armenia, under the guiding motto 'Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe'. This significant gathering takes place amidst a period of profound geopolitical transformation, drawing leaders from nearly 50 nations, including all 27 members of the European Union. These high-level discussions, held on Monday, are set to address critical political matters face-to-face, with US-Iran tensions highlighted as a key topic.

Among the prominent figures arriving in Yerevan on Sunday afternoon were British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The summit is co-chaired by European Council President António Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with President Zelenskyy also slated to hold several sideline meetings. Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending as a guest, marking the first time a non-European country has participated. Costa emphasized the strong bond, stating, "Europe and Canada are more than just like-minded partners -- together we are building a global alliance to defend peace, shared prosperity and multilateralism." Carney, identifying a "rupture" in the US-led system of global governance, previously advocated at the World Economic Forum for middle powers to forge a new path and collaboratively uphold international values. This move reflects an increasing alignment between Europe and Canada, particularly as their relationship with the United States undergoes shifts.

The European Political Community, an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions on Europe's future, was established in 2022 in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This EPC meeting is complemented by the first-ever EU-Armenia summit, signaling Armenia's strong aspirations for closer European ties. The former Soviet nation aims for gradual distancing from Russia and a deeper integration into the European fold. This pro-European course follows a historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both countries now charting a European-oriented path. According to Olesya Vartanyan, a South Caucasus security analyst, the EU summit for Armenia is a clear message to the European Union: "we are here and we are ready."

Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has formally adopted a strategy of "diversification," seeking to cultivate relationships with both Russia and the West. However, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan notes that "in reality it's a process where Armenia tries to establish relationships with the European Union." This landlocked nation, positioned between Europe and Asia, solidified its cooperation with the European Union in trade and other sectors by signing a comprehensive partnership agreement in 2017. Further cementing its ambition, Armenia passed a law last year formally declaring its intention to apply for EU membership. The growing proximity was underscored by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos during her March visit to Armenia, where she declared that "Armenia and the EU have never been closer."