5 April, 2024

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, EU High Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell, Secretary of State of the United States of America, Antony Blinken, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, met on 5 April, 2024 in Brussels to reaffirm support for Armenia’s sovereignty, democracy, territorial integrity, and socio-economic resilience. Read the full press release here.

10 May, 2024

EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos and Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, Paruyr Hovhannisyan, launched the celebration of Europe Day events at the Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall by opening of the “Europe is us” photo exhibition to illustrate the impact of EU-funded projects in Armenia. The exhibition embodies the collaborative bond between Armenia and the EU, echoing this year’s Europe Day theme: EU-Armenia, “Stronger Together.”

13 May, 2024

Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis represented the European Union at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 2024 Annual Meeting & Business Forum in Yerevan, Armenia. Under the broad theme of “Delivering Impact Together,” the EBRD 2024 Annual Meeting & Business Forum served as a global platform for discussions on how to help economies adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. This year’s programme included high-level discussions, panels, and speakers addressing pivotal global topics, from fintech and cybersecurity to sustainable infrastructure and economic inclusion.

10 April, 2024

On 10 April, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos met with beneficiaries of the “Women in Business” project, co-funded by the EU and implemented by EBRD.

Ambassador stressed the crucial role that women play in the development and promotion of the country, and emphasised the EU’s dedication to continuing its support for empowering women and unlocking their full potential. The project assists women-led small and medium enterprises in developing their businesses, hence contributing to the empowerment of women and economic growth in Armenia. In the context of this project, so far, more than 2000 women have been supported with networking and training activities, while more than 120 women have benefited from dedicated advisory services.

11 March, 2024

With the support of the European Union, the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies will reconstruct the historic Gyumri market to establish an international culinary school and implement a project aimed at long-term economic development. The €2.5 EU support grant agreement was signed on 11 March in Gyumri by EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos and TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian. The Gyumri market and culinary school project represents the beginning of a new chapter for the economy of Gyumri. By empowering the people, especially the youth and entrepreneurs, with skills and opportunities, we are helping Gyumri to fulfil its immense promise and potential. The EU is proud to support initiatives that unleash human capabilities, and build sustainable food systems that ensure high standards for Armenian consumers.

1 March, 2024

EU Ambassador to Armenia, Vassilis Maragos, attended the official launch ceremony of EuroClub Gyumri run by Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) in cooperation with Youth Initiative Center NGO. This is the third EuroClub opened in Armenia, following the success of YEAs-led EuroClubs in Oshakan and Vayk. The initiative aims to develop local youth’s skills and boost youth participation in the community offering a large spectrum of activities and encouraging them to become active citizens who will work for the country’s prosperity.

2 March, 2024

On 2 March, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos visited Gyumri and witnessed two inspiring projects supported by the EU4Business “Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia” project. Roof 25: a unique tourism information centre & cafe promoting Gyumri’s history and using innovative 3D technology. ODA Cultural Room: a space preserving lesser-known aspects of Armenian culture and facilitating dialogue between locals and visitors. These projects showcase the impact of EU support in boosting tourism, local economies, and cultural understanding in Armenia.

6 March, 2024

Climate change, outdated water infrastructure and the increased irrigation needs pose risks to the available water resources in Armenia. To tackle these problems, Armenia needs to develop better wastewater treatment, step up efforts to clean Lake Sevan and develop and implement a water management strategy, in line with the Art. 48 of CEPA.

On 6th March, the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos attended the fourth Green Armenia platform policy dialogue devoted to water management in Armenia organised jointly by the Government of Armenia, the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations Development Programme to agree on the steps forward in ensuring sustainability of water resources in Armenia.

 The Ambassador stressed that the EU stands ready to support the Government in all of its water management efforts, in the context of the EU-Armenian Investment Coordination Platform, established to accelerate investments notably within the framework of the Economic and Investment Plan of the EU for Armenia.

11 March, 2024

The Erasmus+ provides wide opportunity for mobility and reforms in education. In 2023 within the International Credit Mobility component 1309 persons (both, incoming and outgoing mobility) benefited from this opportunity. Furthermore, in 2022-2023 over 30 Armenian educational entities benefited from 23 projects, contributing to reforms in educational sector.

The EU Ambassador to Armenia discussed with the National Erasmus+ office the prospects of activisation of youth engagement, support to Erasmus+ alumni and facilitation of the programme implementation. Among the pending issues that affect implementation of Erasmus +, the sides identified visa issues for students and staff exchange/trainings, the need to progress on the Law on education that also regulates the research activities and need of deeper cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Education, Culture and Sports of Armenia. It was agreed to elaborate an agenda for better involvement of the youth in social life and reform agenda of the country together with the Young European Ambassadors, Erasmus+ alumni, EU4YOUTH project, and other youth organisations:

21 March, 2024

Thanks to support from the EU and the European Investment Bank, in the framework of the EU Economic and Investment Plan for Armenia, Arcolad has grown from a small chocolate producer in Armenia to an international exporter, creating jobs and delighting taste buds worldwide․

15 March, 2024

An EU Delegation team led by Ambassador Vassilis Maragos and colleagues from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development visited ABC Textile and Marianna companies, where he witnessed the impressive resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the Armenian private sector. Both companies have benefited from loans enabled by the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) of the EU for Armenia; loans that allowed them to invest in new lines of production and expand their markets. Thanks to the EIP, we have already mobilized nearly € 400 million investments in Armenia, improving access to finance for Armenian companies. Furthermore, the EU4Business initiative has extended support to over 12,000 firms over the last 3 years, fostering modernization and resilience in the Armenian economy. Partnerships like these are preparing Armenia’s economy for the future by creating jobs, promoting trade diversification, technological innovation, and sustainability. Together, we are building a stronger Armenia.

22 March, 2024

The Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Jan Plešinger attended the celebration of the World Water Day event co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment and the EU4Environment programme.

The event has been dedicated to the ongoing reforms in water legislation and management systems to enhance water resource governance and sustainability in Armenia as well as to honour all those who contribute to environmental protection and water resource management.

The European Union already supports Armenia in its efforts to environmentally protect lake Sevan, improve and build new water infrastructure and water treatment plants. It is however important to build any future efforts on learnt lessons from the ongoing assistance to ensure sustainable use of water resources.

26 March, 2024

On 26 March, EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos participated in the round table organised by the Women Resources Centre and other CSOs. The event aimed to assemble representatives from various embassies and international organisations (UN bodies and the Council of Europe) to engage in a constructive dialogue on women’s rights and gender equality. The fruitful discussion was based on recommendations and concluding observations that Armenia received from UN treaty bodies and the UN Human Rights Council from 2020 to 2023 and the subsequent efforts made by the state in implementing them. The dialogue focused on Armenia’s strides in implementing these suggestions, particularly in tackling gender-based discrimination. Armenia’s commitment to enhancing women’s rights and combating discrimination is evident through efforts to bolster education, healthcare, and legal protection against gender violence. Emphasising collaboration with civil society and international partners, Armenia is forging ahead towards sustainable change.

3 April, 2024

A strong, skilled and well-functioning public administration is a precondition to deliver good quality services to the citizens of Armenia and also to implement the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the EU and Armenia and thus deepen the EU-Armenia relations.

Recently, the OECD/SIGMA colleagues presented the revised Principles of Public Administration in an event attended by the representatives from the institutions responsible for public administration reform, National Assembly, as well as representatives from the Prime Minister’s office and numerous Ministries. The event was opened by the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Mr. Arayik Harutyunyan and the EU Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Vassilis Maragos.

The Principles constitute a set of standards, values and practices, and serve as the main assessment framework for public administration and public finance management reforms. These are fundamental for closer EU relations and CEPA implementation.

16 April, 2024

The new initiative of the European Union supporting mental health in Armenia was launched on 16 April. “Rights, services, participation – fostering a comprehensive mental health framework in Armenia” project pursues the objective of promoting policies and mechanisms for accessible, inclusive mental health services and a shift in public attitude towards mental health issues in Armenia. The € 2 million project is implemented through the partnership of “Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor office” NGO, Democracy Development Foundation, “Disability-Rights Agenda” NGO and the Armenian Mental Health Association.

EU supports mental health in Armenia as an important element for country’s resilience.  Mental health is a human right; our approach is based on the understanding that mental health is about more than just health and, strongly involves areas such as education, social services, digitalisation, employment, environment and climate

17 April, 2024

EU-Armenia Roadmap for engagement in international cultural relations and enhancing support to culture & cultural actors was presented. Developed in consultation with the EU member states, EUNIC, and institutional and civil society cultural players, it aims to structure EU cultural relations in Armenia. Through enhanced engagement with stakeholders, it defines steps and priorities to maximise the impact of various EU tools, projects, and programmes in culture, identifying new opportunities for international cultural relations and diplomacy. Cooperation in the cultural field is a priority, focusing on intercultural dialogue, cooperation, diversity, and cultural and historical heritage.

19 April, 2024

They celebrated the International Day for Monuments and Sites with the children, who have reached the final stage of ‘Young European Heritage Makers’ competition. The Ambassador and the Minister handed over the certificates of awards to the participating teams.

Young European Heritage Makers’ is a competition for the young people of Europe. It is an opportunity for them to explore their surroundings, identify the most interesting parts of their heritage and present them to the rest of the world. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, E. Charents Museum of Literature and Art organized this year for the first time a pan-Armenian children’s and youth competition aimed at popularising the historical and cultural heritage. The competition was held within the framework of the “European Heritage Days” programme. It was aimed to encourage youth and get them familiar with the monuments.

26 April, 2024

On 26 April, the conference on “Strengthening the effectiveness of international cooperation in fighting the transnational organised crime” started in Yerevan, organised within the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe programme “Partnership for Good Governance”.

“Working together on the basis of European standards to fight transnational crime and strengthen the effectiveness of rule of law and justice reforms is key to strengthen Armenian institutional reform and resilience. Rule of law and justice reform is essential to consolidate democracy,” mentioned EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos in his welcoming speech.

29 April, 2024

The EU continues supporting disability rights and reforms in Armenia. On 29 April EU-funded Leading Equality and Access for Disabilities project aimed at promoting equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities was launched. The € 1 million project implemented through partnership of World Vision France, Child Protection Foundation of World Vision Armenia, Full Life NGO, Agate NGO, Source Foundation will support the implementation of the new model of disability assessment in Armenia, enhance access of people with disabilities to needs based services and capacitate organisations of people with disabilities.

3 May, 2024

An award ceremony for the “Scientific-Archaeological Studies for the Preservation of Ererouyk” was held at the French Embassy. The award granted in the framework of the EU- funded Europa Nostra, recognises the work of a team of archaeologists, from various nationalities led by Professor Patrick Donabédian. It acknowledges outstanding work in preserving of this Early Christian and Medieval complex as an outstanding example of Armenian artistic achievements. Rehabilitation was made possible thanks to the combined efforts of the European Union, France, Italy and the United States.

On this occasion, the EU Ambassador, M. Vassilis Maragos said: “Armenia is a dynamic society that reinvents itself with each generation, rooted in its cultural and civilisational heritage. Armenian heritage is part of our common European and world heritage. It also shows the many connections between Armenia and Europe over the centuries. Moreover, Armenia has an obvious European tropism, and enriching it with our exchanges and dialogues is essential. By working together, we can ensure that Armenia’s heritage will continue to shine for generations to come. We are just its custodians and caretakers”.

6 May, 2024

On World Press Freedom Day, the EU-funded project Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience introduced two new tools for media self-regulation (Ethics Marker and White List) to ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting practices.

8 May, 2024

EU and Armenia strategic cooperation in education was launched back in 2019 with a comprehensive policy dialogue.

EU’s portfolio of support projects in this area is more than € 70 million. The EU supports the implementation of the recently adopted Education strategy, which includes important reforms, including the roll out of STEM laboratories and curricula in several marzes, construction of schools and building the school management system, appointment of principals, professional orientation, enhancing research in green economy and promoting the assessment of school learning outcome. EU also supports informal education.

7 May, 2024

On 7 May, 2024, the EU-funded € 1 million Twinning programme “Fostering integrity and preventing corruption in the public sector in Armenia” implemented by Germany and Latvia held an event dedicated to the presentation of the project outcomes as its final event. The overall objective of the Twining programme was to foster integrity and prevent corruption in the public sector in Armenia, supporting the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia in their efforts to tackle corruption, implement anti-corruption education and strengthen their institutional capacities in corruption prevention.’

13 May, 2024

EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos delivered a keynote address at the EU-funded REDEMOS conference at Yerevan State University. He focused on EU-Armenia cooperation, democracy, focus on citizens and EU values. Democracy lies at the heart of EU engagement in Armenia.

17 May, 2024

On the occasion of Europe Day, an Info Fair on EU-funded projects and local products, a workshop on media literacy by Young European Ambassadors, and a panel discussion under the title “EU4Region” were held on May 17, at the COAF SMART Center in Lori. At the end of the day, the guests had the opportunity to enjoy the grand concert featuring performances by Aram MP3, the rock band “Lav Eli,” as well as Hayk Petrosyan, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Dave Geodakyan, Arman Mnatsakanyan, and Daniel Melkonyan. They presented the music program “Thank You, Charles” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour.

17 May, 2024

Aligned with the EU’s commitment to fighting disinformation, #EuropeDay celebrations featured an engaging media literacy workshop for Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) students and guests, led by Young European Ambassadors and expert Artur Zakare Harutyunyan.

During the workshop, students were introduced to the EU-funded books of comics on media literacy. The event concluded with a lively open-air info fair, where attendees learned how to stay resilient against information manipulation.

17 May, 2024

The impact of EU’s support to regional development initiatives across Armenia was the focus of panel discussion organised in the framework of Europe Day 2024 celebrations on May 17, at the “COAF SMART” Center in Lori. EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos and COAF Global Executive Director Ara Barsam set the scene for discussion by highlighting the importance of EU-Armenia partnership in the field of regional and rural development.

The panel discussion has brought together representatives and beneficiaries of EU funded projects such as LEAD4Lori and Tavush, Innojevan, Mayors for Economic Growth regional facility, EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia. The discussion has also featured the experience of Austria in regional development exploring the untapped opportunities and work done by Austrian Cooperation in Armenia, including through the EU funded LEAD4Shirak and EU GAIA projects.

23 May, 2024

Europe Day 2024 celebrations in Syunik kick-started on 23 May with a discussion led by EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos and Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan on progress of Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative and socio-economic development needs, which are still persistent in the region.

Over a year ago Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative was launched. We are pleased that EU, and its member states – Austria, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden, as well as Switzerland and the European Investment Bank have joined efforts to leverage a greater transformational impact for the benefit of people of Syunik. 37 projects with a total budget of EUR 125 million, are currently implemented under the umbrella of Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative focusing on private sector development, green agriculture promotion and support, skills development through vocational and non-formal education, improving municipal capacities and services including community-based social and health series,  enhancing municipal infrastructure and enabling application of energy efficient solutions, supporting citizen participation and sustainable management of natural resources.

24 May, 2024

On 24 May, Team Europe visited the newly renovated Goris Citizen Office which is a unified hub for providing essential public services to citizens of Goris consolidated community.

Under the umbrella of Resilient Syunik Team Europe initiative, Goris Citizen Office is supported by the Good Governance for Local Development (GGLD) South Caucasus Programme implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC).

24 May, 2024

On 24 May, EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos made a follow-up visit to the Verishen Center of Winnet Goris Development Foundation to meet with the displaced elderly women supported by the center. In the framework of Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative EU has been supporting Winnet through several projects for implementation of activities aimed at economic empowerment of vulnerable women, as well as offering support to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh with a specific focus on elderly refugees.

24 May, 2024

With the support of the European Union, under the umbrella of Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative, Tegh community’s multifunctional community centre provides a multitude of services for the elderly, children and refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

24 May, 2024

On 24 May, Team Europe visited Davtyan’s Organic Asparagus Farm in Tegh. The farm, which is one of the leading producers of high value asparagus and has received ‘’organic’’ certification has been supported under EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) implemented by Austrian Development Agency (ADA), funded by the European Union (EU) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia project is part of Resilient Syunik Team Europe initiative, which aims to contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Syunik region.

29 May, 2024

29 May, at the Union of Film Professionals of Armenia the European Film Festival was inaugurated with the multi-awarded Belgian film OMEN, presented by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024. This Festival featured a wide range of films and represented the richness and diversity of European cinema, highlighting different genres, styles, and perspectives.

31 May, 2024

“Interagency coordination for requesting and receiving international assistance via UCPM” underscored the vital importance of Civil Protection Mechanism. The urgency of disaster-related risk prevention/mitigation, especially in the aftermath of recent floods in Armenia led to the request by the RA Government to apply to activate it. Collaborative efforts are needed to enhance Armenia’s response capacities.