Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
149. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with regard to Armenia potentially seeking candidate status for EU membership; Ireland’s position in relation to such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16738/24]
View answerIreland and the European Union are committed to growing our relations with Armenia in all dimensions. The EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in force since 1 March 2021 and aims to strengthen EU-Armenia co-operation in a number of sectors including the economy, business and trade, and education. With the support of the EU, Armenia has agreed to undertake reforms in areas such as rule of law, democracy, good governance, judicial independence, anti-corruption, human rights, and the economy. EU-Armenian relations have deepened significantly as a result of the CEPA. High Representative Josep Borrell announced at the most recent meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council on 13 February 2024 that the EU would be launching an ambitious, new “EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda”.
The trilateral meeting on 5 April in Brussels between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was a demonstration of our growing ties and a show of support from democratic countries for Armenia as a resilient democracy. At the meeting, further details of the new “EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda” were revealed by President von der Leyen, who announced €270 million in investments for Armenia over the next four years. This commitment underlines the EU’s support for Armenia in light of current challenges, and as a key partner of the European Union. I am confident that EU-Armenian relations will continue to strengthen in the years ahead.
We also welcome Armenia’s increasing European orientation. The enlargement of the EU has contributed significantly to the spread of stability, peace and prosperity across the continent. The process to join the European Union is merit-based, and clearly set out in the Copenhagen criteria. Any European country that meets the criteria and demonstrates a genuine commitment to European values should have an opportunity to join.
