To express your interest in building up a future candidate section of JEF Armenia, please fill the form here.

In recent years, relations between Armenia and the European Union have changed significantly. What began as cautious cooperation has evolved into an increasingly ambitious political partnership. For many young Europeans, Armenia may still seem geographically distant from Brussels, Strasbourg, or the capitals of the EU member states. However, Armenia’s European orientation is increasingly becoming one of the most important democratic stories in Europe’s neighborhood: a story of resilience, reforms, peace, and a society’s right to freely shape its own future.

The foundation of EU-Armenian relations remains the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed in 2017 and entered into full force on March 1, 2021. This agreement is the central legal and political framework for Armenia’s closer alignment with European standards, including in the areas of democratic governance, the rule of law, human rights, the economy, education, transport, the environment, and institutional reforms. Simply put, CEPA is not just a diplomatic document, but a concrete roadmap to gradually bring Armenia closer to European rules, values, and practices.

What has changed recently is political ambition. In December 2025, the EU and Armenia adopted a new Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership. Replacing the previous partnership priorities, it aims to deepen political, economic, and sectoral cooperation and accelerate the implementation of CEPA. The Council of the European Union describes this new agenda as an important step toward deepening relations between the two partners.

This deepening of the partnership also reflects a clear political development within Armenia. In April 2025, President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a law that legally initiated Armenia’s process of accession to the European Union. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clarified that this does not yet constitute a formal application for EU membership, but rather the beginning of a longer political and institutional process that will require reforms and likely a public vote.

 

For JEF Europe, this development is of particular importance. European integration has never been merely a matter of borders, treaties, or institutions. It is based on the conviction that democracy, peace, the rule of law, and human dignity are strengthened when states and societies cooperate instead of isolating themselves from one another. Armenia’s European orientation should therefore focus on strengthening sovereignty, increasing democratic decision-making, and cooperating jointly 

However, Armenia’s European orientation should not be understood as something foreign or artificially imported. Even during the Soviet era, European values ​​held special significance for many Armenians. Education, culture, personal dignity, freedom of thought, and the desire for a more open public life were not perceived as abstract Western concepts, but rather as something that resonated strongly with Armenia’s own historical and cultural identity. At the same time, the Soviet era in Armenia, too, was characterized by restrictions, control, and political oppression. It is therefore important to understand Armenia’s current European orientation not as nostalgia, but as a conscious democratic development.

Within the Soviet Union, Armenia was considered in many respects to be a society with a vibrant cultural, scientific, and intellectual life. While the Soviet period brought ideological control, it also brought significant developments in education, culture, science, and urbanization. Historical analyses of the Armenian Soviet Republic point to important cultural and educational advances, but also to the contradictions and limitations of the Soviet system. It is precisely from this perspective that today’s rapprochement with the European Union appears to many people in Armenia not as a sudden geopolitical shift, but rather as the natural continuation of a long-standing European value system.

This is also reflected in the perception of European partner states. France, a founding member of the European Union and for decades a close political, cultural, and social partner of Armenia, enjoys exceptionally high levels of trust among the Armenian public. According to a 2024 survey by the Armenian office of Gallup International, 78.1% of Armenian citizens consider France a friend of Armenia, the highest percentage among the countries surveyed. This figure is more than just a statistic. It demonstrates that Europe’s significance for Armenia lies not only in treaties, reform programs, or diplomatic declarations, but also in trust, historical ties, and a genuine societal expectation of a shared European future.

 

Following the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh by Azerbaijan after Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive, peace and security remain central. JEF Europe is deeply concerned by the lack of provisions for the right of return in the peace agreement concluded in 2025 and ongoing threats to Armenian cultural and religious heritage. The EU has responded with humanitarian aid, diplomatic engagement, and civilian crisis support. Since 2023, more than €78 million has been provided to support the urgent needs of displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and to promote their long-term socio-economic integration.

The EU’s security presence in Armenia has also been strengthened. The EU Mission in Armenia was established in 2023 to contribute to stability in the border regions. In April 2026, the Council of the European Union also decided to establish a new civilian EU Partnership Mission in Armenia under the Common Security and Defense Policy. This mission initially has a two-year mandate and aims to strengthen Armenia’s democratic resilience and crisis management capacity.

Nevertheless, the peace process with Azerbaijan remains a crucial factor. Sustainable peace is essential for Armenia’s democratic development, regional connectivity, and long-term European orientation. Peace would not only reduce the risk of renewed violence but also create space for economic cooperation, cross-border infrastructure, and a different future for the South Caucasus. For the EU, this means that its Armenia policy must consist not only of reform programs but also of active support for stability, dialogue, and respect for the sovereignty of all states in the region.

One of the most promising areas of EU-Armenia cooperation is connectivity: physical, economic, digital, and human. The EU’s Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia for the period 2024–2027 comprises €270 million and aims to support socio-economic reforms, business development, connectivity, and resilience. Of this, €200 million is earmarked as grants and €70 million as investment grants to mobilize additional public and private investment in trade, energy, transport, and the private sector.

For young people, however, mobility is probably the most visible sign of a closer relationship between Armenia and the EU. In July 2024, the EU decided to open a dialogue with Armenia on visa liberalization. The goal is to eventually allow visa-free short stays in the Schengen Area, provided Armenia meets the necessary benchmarks. In November 2025, the Visa Liberalization Action Plan was presented, representing an important step towards potential future visa-free travel. This process is not automatic and depends on concrete reforms, such as those related to travel document security, border management, migration, public order, and fundamental rights. If it is successfully completed, it could bring Armenians closer to Europe in the most human way: through study, travel, exchanges, friendships, and personal experiences.

 

Nevertheless, Armenia’s path to Europe will not be easy. The country remains economically and geographically vulnerable, with strong historical ties to Russia and membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia has repeatedly made it clear that, in its view, Armenia cannot simultaneously pursue deeper European integration and remain part of the Russian-led economic sphere. In April 2026, President Vladimir Putin warned that Armenia could not simultaneously be part of the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. This is precisely why the EU’s approach is so important: support for Armenia must be serious, long-term, and reform-oriented—while at the same time being realistic in the face of the pressure the country is under. and is exposed.

Young Europeans and youth organizations can play a crucial role here. EU-Armenian relations should not be left solely to governments, diplomats, and technical experts. Youth exchanges, Erasmus+ collaborations, political education, local democracy projects, media literacy initiatives, and partnerships with civil society can all contribute to making the European idea visible in everyday life. Armenia’s European future will only be credible if it is not just a matter of official declarations, but is experienced concretely by students, young professionals, rural communities, entrepreneurs, displaced families, and civil society actors.

JEF Europe can contribute to this by advocating for a stronger, values-based EU policy towards Armenia. This includes supporting visa liberalization once the conditions are met, expanding youth mobility, strengthening civil society cooperation, supporting democratic reforms, and sending a clear message that the EU must not reduce its engagement with Armenia to geopolitics alone. A federalist vision of Europe must be open to societies that choose democracy, reform, and cooperation—while remaining honest: European integration demands responsibility, the rule of law, and long-term institutional transformation.

Armenia stands at a historic crossroads today. Its European path is not guaranteed. It will require courage from Armenian society, consistency from EU institutions, and solidarity from European citizens. But the direction is clear: Closer relations between the EU and Armenia do not simply mean that one country moves closer to the European Union. They also mean that the EU must demonstrate that its values ​​continue to have a transformative power beyond its current borders.

 

For young Europeans, the message is simple: Armenia’s democratic and European aspirations deserve attention, partnership, and solidarity. The future of Europe is not solely built within the EU. It is built wherever people choose democracy over fear, cooperation over isolation, and peace over perpetual conflict. Armenia’s European journey is therefore not a distant regional issue. It is part of the European story.

 

JEF Europe is therefore actively looking to support the establishment of a candidate section of JEF Armenia. If you are interested, fill in this form. For any questions, please reach out to Executive Board Member Konstantine Gagnidze.