Opinion
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The European Political Community, an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe, launched in 2022 following Russia’s war against Ukraine, provides a flexible framework for political coordination among European states, including both EU and non-EU members. It is a unique format where EU member and non-member states can gather and discuss issues of mutual interest and concern on an equal and balanced basis.

Unlike the European Union, the EPC has no binding legal framework, it focuses on strategic dialogue rather than integration and includes up to 50 delegations. The main points on its agenda are: security and stability, energy and connectivity, migration and resilience, and democratic governance. The Yerevan summit represents both a geographical and political expansion of this initiative into the South Caucasus.

When leaders from across the continent gather in Yerevan, the meeting will be more than just another diplomatic event. It will be a test of Europe’s geopolitical maturity, Armenia’s strategic direction, and the future of the regional stability in the South Caucasus. A more active and decisive Europe should demonstrate that European security, safe borders, stable development, welfare, democracy, and resilience are at the top of its agenda and carry strategic importance for the future of the continent. Yerevan is not a neutral choice of venue. It reflects a region in transition, and a Europe increasingly willing to engage where it once hesitated.

In addition, the Summit highlights a contrasting trend in Armenia’s immediate neighbour, Georgia. This country is now experiencing a visible decline. Despite the fact that more than 80% of its population continues to support the country’s European future, the current authorities are increasingly pursuing policies that raise concerns about democratic backsliding, moving the country further away from its long-standing strategic and historical objective of European integration. Georgia, once a leader in reforms, Europeanisation, and democratic development, where I believed, and logically expected, the Summit could have been held, is now replaced by its neighbour as the host. This shift is pragmatic, envisaging political support, economic integration, and diversified partnerships.

It should be noted that the event is taking place ahead of decisive elections in Armenia. These elections will determine Yerevan’s future trajectory, whether it continues its alignment with the West or reverts to Russian influence, potentially impacting not only Armenia itself but also the future development of the region as a whole.

It may be too early to fully assess the summit’s implications across political, security, and economic domains, but the fact remains that while the EPC strengthens Europe’s geopolitical footprint and offers Armenia new strategic opportunities, its long-term effectiveness will depend on sustained engagement, regional cooperation, and the ability to navigate intensifying great-power competition.

By hosting the summit, Armenia is positioning itself as more than a peripheral actor. It is asserting a role as a bridge between regions and as a state seeking greater agency in a changing geopolitical landscape.

As for the European Union, the Yerevan summit represents a smooth but significant expansion of influence. For decades, the eastern neighbourhood, including the South Caucasus region, has been treated as a secondary element, important but not central. That approach is no longer viable. The region sits at the intersection of energy routes, transport corridors, and geopolitical competition. Ignoring it is not an option. Current developments in Europe and in the Middle East clearly demonstrate that the region is gaining, if not decisive, then certainly strategic importance for the continent.

Through the EPC, Europe has found a mechanism to engage without the constraints of enlargement. It can convene, coordinate, and influence without promising membership. This flexibility is the EPC’s greatest strength.

The EPC’s value lies in its ability to bring leaders together, including those who rarely meet. In previous summits, it has facilitated dialogue between adversaries and created space for informal diplomacy. Yerevan could offer a similar opportunity in the context of tensions involving Azerbaijan and broader regional dynamics involving Türkiye. It can also provide an opportunity for Georgia, if it so wishes, and as Nikol Pashinyan has indicated on behalf of Yerevan, for improving Georgia-EU relations. However, the platform has limits. It does not produce binding decisions and cannot enforce agreements. Its success depends entirely on political will. If key actors choose absence over engagement, the summit risks becoming symbolic rather than substantive.

At its core, the Yerevan summit will confront a difficult question: can Europe play a meaningful role in regional and global security? The gradual decline of Russia’s dominance in the South Caucasus has created a vacuum, but not yet a stable alternative. Europe has stepped in with the missions and political support, but its role remains limited. The EPC does not replace hard security structures, it cannot, but it can shape the environment in which security decisions are made by building trust, encouraging dialogue, and signalling political commitment. Whether that will be sufficient remains uncertain.

Beyond politics and security, the summit highlights the economic stakes of regional engagement. The South Caucasus is increasingly relevant as a corridor linking Europe and Asia. Connectivity, energy diversification, and infrastructure development are no longer abstract concepts, they are strategic priorities. For Armenia, deeper engagement with European economic frameworks offers a pathway to diversification and resilience. For Europe, it is an opportunity to reduce dependencies and expand its economic footprint. However, Europe is not alone – Russia, China, and regional powers are all competing for influence. The outcome will depend not on declarations, but on delivery.

The Yerevan summit will ultimately be judged not by its declarations, but by its consequences. If it leads to sustained engagement, concrete initiatives, and meaningful dialogue, it will mark a turning point for Armenia, for the region, and for Europe’s role in it. If not, it risks reinforcing scepticism about Europe’s ability to act strategically beyond its borders.

For Armenia, it is a step toward redefining its place in the world, enabling more active engagement with the West, attracting investment, and fostering transformation and development. For the South Caucasus, it is an opportunity to move beyond entrenched divisions. For Europe, it is a test of whether it can translate ambition into action. In a time of shifting power and uncertain alliances, the ability to shape outcomes, rather than merely respond to them, will define the next phase of European geopolitics. The European Political Community was created as a response to the crisis. In Yerevan, it can prove its evolution into an instrument of strategy.

March 2026