European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced an invitation extended to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to address a plenary session in Strasbourg held on the margins of the European Political Community summit. The move underscores the Parliament’s ongoing engagement with Armenia and its leadership, signaling a willingness to hear perspectives from allied neighbors and partner states within the European Union’s broader security and diplomatic framework.
In Granada, the Armenian Prime Minister confirmed the invitation, stressing that the outreach aims to foster direct dialogue on regional issues and the future of European-Armenian relations. The exchange demonstrates how parliamentary diplomacy can complement executive diplomacy by creating formal venues for debate, clarification, and mutual understanding among key regional actors.
The Granada gathering brought together leaders from Armenia, Germany, and France, along with representatives from the Council of Europe, marking a notable moment for regional discussion even with Azerbaijan absent. The event proceeded in a five-party format, with Azerbaijan choosing not to participate. This decision did not derail the broader goal of maintaining diplomatic channels and constructive discourse among neighboring states and institutions.
Reports in The Financial Times indicate that European Union leaders used the Granada meeting to signal a commitment to collective security and regional stability. The discussions touched on potential measures and responses should tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region escalate, highlighting how EU diplomacy aims to balance principled stances with practical, measured actions intended to deter further instability while encouraging dialogue among all involved parties.
Meanwhile, Armenian and Azerbaijani officials have long engaged on questions of mutual recognition, with ongoing dialogue exploring how each side might acknowledge the other’s territorial considerations within a framework that preserves peace and regional cooperation. The progress reported from Granada suggests that the parties continue to explore pathways to reduce tensions and to build confidence through sustained communication, even as substantive differences remain central to the bilateral agenda.
Overall, the sequence of meetings and invitations points to a broader pattern in which European institutions actively seek channels for dialogue, reassurance, and engagement in the South Caucasus. By inviting Armenian leadership to speak at the European Parliament and by coordinating high-level discussions among regional partners, the European Union reinforces its role as a mediator of dialogue, stability, and cooperative engagement across Europe and its neighboring areas.