The EPC Summit Armenia officially begins as Yerevan hosts the eighth European Political Community meeting and the first-ever Armenia-EU summit on May 4–5. Against a backdrop of global geopolitical shifts, state leaders have gathered to coordinate positions on energy security, transport corridors, cybersecurity, and migration crises rather than to sign formal treaties.
The event is held under the slogan “Building the Future: European Unity and Stability.” However, the contrast between the continent’s global challenges and the deliberately informal style of the meetings raises a question: what is the EPC today? It remains to be seen whether it is a convenient VIP club for informal conversations or an effective structure that will gradually bypass traditional Brussels bureaucracy.
Emmanuel Macron’s Initiative
The EPC platform was established in 2022 at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. The project was intended as a space for EU countries and their partners: candidate states, the United Kingdom, and countries linked to the EU through economic agreements and shared European values.
At the inaugural meeting in Prague, Macron defined the mission: “We are sending a signal of European unity to all Europeans, regardless of whether they are members of the European Union or not; it is about building strategic intimacy. Our goal is to understand the common situation affecting Europe and to build a common strategy through conversation. I hope that common projects can emerge from this.”
The EPC allows for dozens of informal meetings in a single day, where leaders of conflicting countries can interact without the pressure of official protocol. Political scientists describe the summit as a platform for behind-the-scenes diplomacy or “speed dating” for heads of state. Major breakthroughs often occur on the sidelines rather than at the main table.
EPC Summit Armenia: A Broad Geopolitical Coalition
The EPC format has served as a solution to the post-Brexit landscape, allowing the United Kingdom to remain a key political player in Europe. Additionally, the platform provides an opportunity to build a broad coalition with regional heavyweights.
The participant list for the Yerevan summit reflects this scale. Attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu. European heads of government in attendance include Donald Tusk (Poland), Inga Ruginienė (Lithuania), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), Andrej Babiš (Czech Republic), Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway), Pedro Sánchez (Spain), and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Diplomatic developments include Turkey’s representation by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, which is symbolic given the history of relations with Armenia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is participating via video link.
The 2026 Agenda: Generational Change and the Future of Europe
The dialogue in Yerevan is shaped by ongoing conflicts: the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the escalation in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, Lebanon, and Israel.
Under these conditions, the EPC appears to be more than just a discussion club. While it is not yet the primary venue for all major foreign policy decisions, it is possible that future generations of politicians will favor these flexible, informal formats over stiff, old-fashioned diplomacy.