Prime Minister Mark Carney has received an invitation to participate in the upcoming European Political Community (EPC) summit in Armenia, as announced by European Council President António Costa. Carney will join 47 other heads of government or state at the event, marking the first instance of a non-European country’s involvement in these meetings.
Costa emphasized the strong partnership between Europe and Canada, highlighting their collaborative efforts in promoting peace, shared prosperity, and multilateralism. The EPC was established in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, serving as a platform for countries within the EU and its political sphere to engage in discussions and idea exchanges similar to the G20 or G7 formats.
In addition to the 27 EU member states, various other nations like Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Ukraine, the Balkan states, the U.K., and European microstates such as Andorra and Liechtenstein will also attend the summit. Co-chaired by Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the event is scheduled for May 4 and 5 in Yerevan, Armenia.
During his visit from May 2 to 4, Carney plans to showcase Canada as an attractive destination for investment in sectors like critical minerals, energy, defense, and other industries. Expressing Canada’s growing alignment with European partners, Carney highlighted the nations’ shared values and ongoing collaborations in defense, energy, and technology to foster a secure and prosperous future.
The summit agenda includes discussions on enhancing democratic resilience, economic security, and energy cooperation among the attending leaders. Additionally, topics such as the situation in Ukraine and the ongoing Middle East crisis will be addressed. Costa emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation between the EU and Armenia to promote peace, connectivity, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region.