European Council President António Costa announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Mark Carney has received an invitation to participate in the upcoming European Political Community (EPC) summit in Armenia next month. Carney is among the 48 heads of government and state set to attend the event, making history as the first non-European nation to take part in these meetings.
Costa emphasized the strong partnership between Europe and Canada, stressing their collaborative efforts in upholding peace, prosperity, and multilateralism on a global scale.
Established in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Political Community functions similarly to the G20 or G7 by bringing together countries within and outside the EU to engage in discussions and idea exchange.
Apart from the 27 EU member states, the summit will also be attended by countries such as Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Ukraine, the Balkan states, the U.K., as well as European microstates like Andorra and Liechtenstein.
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The summit, scheduled for May 4 and 5, will be jointly chaired by Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
During his stay in Yerevan, Armenia, from May 2 to 4, Carney aims to promote Canada as an attractive destination for investments in key sectors like critical minerals, energy, defense, and other industries.
Carney expressed Canada’s growing alignment with European partners and allies, emphasizing mutual values driving cooperation in defense, energy, and technology for a secure and prosperous future across the Atlantic.
Supporting Ukraine, discussing Middle East
Leaders at the summit will focus on enhancing collaboration and coordinated efforts to strengthen democratic resilience, economic stability, and energy security.
The agenda also includes discussions on the latest developments in Ukraine and the ramifications of the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Costa highlighted the summit’s significance in deepening cooperation between the EU and Armenia, unders