PanEuropa Armenia (PEA), also known as the PanEuropa Armenia Integration Center (Armenian: ՀամաԵվրոպա Հայաստան Ինտեգրման Կենտրոն, romanizedHamaevropakan Hayastan Integrman Kentron) is an Armenian non-governmental organization which seeks to advance Armenia's European integration, support Armenia's bid to join the European Union, and advocate for closer relations between Armenia and the West. It is headquartered in Yerevan.[1][2]

PanEuropa Armenia
ՀամաԵվրոպա Հայաստան Ինտեգրման Կենտրոն
AbbreviationPEA
Founded2023; 1 year ago (2023)
TypeNon-governmental organization
Legal statusNonprofit
FocusSupporting Armenia's accession to the European Union
Self-determination of Artsakh
Strengthening human rights in Armenia
Promoting democracy in Central and Eastern Europe
Headquarters0015 2 Paronyan St., Yerevan
Region served
Armenia
MethodsAdvocacy
Secretary General
Aram Gevorgyan
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Tigran Khzmalyan
Parent organization
Paneuropean Union
AffiliationsEuropean Party of Armenia
WebsitePanEuropa Armenia

History

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PanEuropa Armenia was established on 14 September 2023. Tigran Khzmalyan, who serves as the Chairman of the European Party of Armenia,[3] serves as the current Chair of the PEA Board of Trustees. On 14 September 2023, Rainhard Kloucek, Secretary General of Paneuropa Austria and Walburga Habsburg Douglas, vice-president of the Paneuropean Union met with members of the European Party of Armenia and the EU Delegation to Armenia in Yerevan. The sides discussed geopolitical issues facing Armenia and alternatives to Russian dependency.[4][5] On 17 September 2023, Walburga Habsburg Douglas and Rainhard Kloucek spoke on Armenian national TV about the foundation of the PEA and its commitment to see Armenia's accession to the EU.[2]

Activities

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The PEA advocates for Armenia to join the European Union, with Tigran Khzmalyan stating that Armenia should do so by 2030.[6][7]

On 18 July 2023, members of the PEA participated in an Eastern Partnership conference hosted at the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia in Yerevan. Prospects of Armenia's integration into the EU and the future of the Eastern Partnership was discussed. Tigran Khzmalyan, the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs, the Europe in Law Association, and the Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paruyr Hovhannisyan, participated in the event.[8]

On 23 October 2023, the PEA hosted the former mayor of Tbilisi, Giorgi Ugulava. The European integration of Armenia and Georgia was discussed.[9]

On 30 October 2023, the PEA and the Paneuropean Union called for the condemnation of Azerbaijan for war crimes following the 2023 Azeri offensive, the recognition of Armenia's European identity, and to integrate Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine into a "European community of values".[9]

On 9 November 2023, Tigran Khzmalyan participated in the "Strategic Future of Armenia, Armenia-Europe Conference" hosted by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in association with the Union of Armenians of Europe in Brussels.[9] Participants called for further European integration of Armenia, for Armenia to strengthen its role in the Eastern Partnership, the complete implementation of the Armenia–EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, additional political and economic integration with the EU, and the possibility of future EU membership.[10] A joint-declaration with recommendations was sent to the Government of Armenia and the European Commission following the event.[11]

On 18 November 2023, PEA Board of Trustees member Kristine Voskerchyan called for the preservation of churches and other cultural heritage in Artsakh at a United Nations summit at Touro University in New York City.[12]

On 14 March 2024, the PEA released a statement supporting the European Parliament's passing of a resolution which reaffirmed that Armenia meets Maastricht Treaty Article 49 requirements and may apply for EU membership.[13] The PEA further called on the government of Armenia to submit Armenia's EU candidacy application to the European Commission as soon as possible.[14]

On 15 May 2024, the PEA expressed its support of joining the United Platform of Democratic Forces.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Electronic Register, Government of Armenia". www.e-register.am.
  2. ^ a b "PanEuropa միջազգային կազմակերպությունն իր մասնաճյուղն է բացում Երեւանում՝ ի նպաստ ՀՀ եվրաինտեգրմանը" – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ "Ես Փաշինյանի տեղը անպայման կձերբակալեի Պուտինին․ Տիգրան Խզմալյան - Հրապարակ".
  4. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  5. ^ ""Armenia remains a colony for Russia." Tigran Khzmalyan (VIDEO)". Radar.am.
  6. ^ "«Մինչև 2030թ․ Եվրամիությունը համալրվելու է 10 պետություններով, որոնցից մեկը Հայաստանն է»․ Տիգրան Խզմալյան". Hetq.am. 9 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Հաջորդիվ ՀՀ-ն է լինելու ԵՄ-ի անդամության թեկնածու․ Եվրոպան մեզնից արդեն հեռու չէ․ Տիգրան Խզմալյան․ ՏԵՍԱՆՅՈՒԹ | Ֆակտոր տեղեկատվական կենտրոն".
  8. ^ "Armenia's civil society met with local and EU officials. Eastern Partnership will maintain its current format - Orer". 20 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  10. ^ Armenia, Eastern Partnership (8 November 2023). "THE STRATEGIC FUTURE OF ARMENIA Armenia-Europe Conference-November 9-10, 2023, Brussels".
  11. ^ "The First EU-Armenia Conference: the Strategic Future of Armenia was Held in Brussels - Orer". 13 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  13. ^ "JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia | RC-B9-0163/2024 | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu.
  14. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  15. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=759303263055289&set=a.187751096877178 [bare URL]
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