Taoiseach Arrives for Armenia Summit as Mark Carney Joins European Leaders
Micheál Martin attends the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan, with Mark Carney joining European leaders to discuss security and resilience.
Micheál Martin’s trip to Yerevan comes at a tense moment for Europe, as leaders gather to compare notes on security, economic resilience and regional instability.
The Taoiseach is in Armenia today for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), a forum bringing together around 50 leaders from across the continent.. The summit is taking place in the Armenian capital as discussions focus on geopolitical developments, economic resilience and security, with the backdrop including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.
Canada is also part of the conversation.. Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending as a guest, described by officials as the first time a non-European leader has taken part in the forum, in line with what they say are closer ties between Canada and Europe.. The European Council’s president, António Costa, said leaders will discuss how to cooperate to strengthen security and collective resilience.
This is the kind of gathering where diplomatic signals matter as much as policy talks, because it helps map where governments think risks are heading next.
Ahead of the meeting, Martin said the EPC offers a chance to address shared challenges facing European countries.. He pointed to issues tied to continuing Russian aggression in Ukraine, global instability, and the consequences of conflict in the Middle East.. He also linked the discussions to Ireland’s EU priorities, saying competitiveness challenges and the changed security landscape will be an important focus during its EU Presidency beginning in July.
As well as the main sessions, Martin is expected to take part in a roundtable on economic security and connectivity. He is also due to attend a session focused on support for Moldova, and join discussions on tackling organised crime and drug trafficking.
The summit also adds to the wider diplomatic picture around transatlantic relations. With uncertainty in US-European ties looming large, discussions are set against a backdrop of disagreements and tensions with European allies.
For Ireland, the event is also a chance to stay connected with a fast-moving set of European debates, particularly as the next EPC meeting is due to be hosted in Dublin.
The EPC itself was established in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and is designed as an informal political dialogue rather than a body built for formal decision-making. Ireland is set to host the next meeting of the forum in Dublin in November.
Martin is expected to extend invitations to other leaders during today’s summit, with the Taoiseach saying he looks forward to welcoming EPC members to Dublin. He is also due to hold a number of bilateral meetings alongside the multilateral programme.
In the end, the value of a forum like the EPC often shows in the follow-through, because it turns broad concerns into relationships that can be used when crises intensify.