November 9-10, 2023, Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium
The Armenia-Europe Conference “The Strategic Future of Armenia” was initiated by the “Free Citizen” Civic Initiative Support Center NGO, Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF ANP), and the Union of Armenians of Europe, in cooperation with the Europe-Armenia Civil Society Platform and the Institute for the Development of Nations. It was a follow-up event of the Independence Forum held in Armenia on 30 September 2023. The Conference was held in the large hall of the Hay Doun Cultural Center of the Armenian community in Belgium, and in the meeting rooms of Ramada Hotel on the second day.
The aim of the Conference was to establish a platform for dialogue among prominent civil society actors, politicians, experts, and public opinion makers to discuss the potential of and current challenges to European integration for Armenia, as well as opportunities for cooperation across different fields. The strengthening of the ties between Armenia and Europe, which is now the assignment of the Armenian society must be comprehensively discussed in all civil society, political and professional platforms.
The participants of the event addressed several areas, including political, legal, economic, and security. The Conference’s initiators plan to hold the event annually and to include other sectors, such as the economy, culture, education, science, and the environment, in the future. To meet these needs, they decided to start a special foundation.
In addition to experts and civil society actors from Armenia, EU Member States, the US, Ukraine, and Israel, the Conference hosted high-ranking officials from Armenia and the EU as guests. In particular, Mr. Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the National Security Council, H.E. Dirk Schuebel, Special Envoy for Eastern Partnership, Mr. Zareh Sinanian, High Commissioner for Diaspora, Members of the European Parliament Mr. Angel Dzhambazki (Bulgaria), Mr Francois-Xavier Bellamy (France), Mr Fabio Massimo Castaldo (Italy), and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Tigran Balayan were among the speakers of the Conference. Mr. Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Republic Party, Mr. Tigran Khzmalyan, leader of the European Party of Armenia, and Mr. Hayk Soukiasyan, the vice-chairman of the Christian-Democratic Party of Armenia were among the participants from political parties.
Oleksandr Bozhko, former Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia, welcomed participants from Ukraine to the Conference, and Ms. Sintija Bernava, Member of the Steering Committee of the EaP Civil Society Forum from Latvia, delivered an address.
What is the vision of the RA’s national security strategy? Is a strategic U-Turn a possibility? With which countries and alliances should Armenia build its economic security and defense strategy? What are the institutional tools for strengthening the sovereignty of Armenia? How can the Armenian diaspora contribute to the progress of the Republic of Armenia? What is the next step after all the provisions stipulated in the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement are implemented? What are the prospects for Armenia’s political and economic integration with the EU? These and many other issues were discussed at the conference.
The Conference organizers collected participants’ recommendations, which will be summarized in a report and submitted to the EU and the Armenian Government. The event was livestreamed via the Armenian Public Television and Factor TV. There was broad coverage of the event across other media outlets, including Zarkerak, Civic.am, and social media.
Secretariat of the Armenian National Platform of
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
