Young European Ambassadors – Armenia (YEAs Armenia) () is the
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
n branch of the Young European Ambassadors (YEAs). YEAs Armenia was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in
Yerevan
Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...
.
History
YEAs Armenia is a branch of the Young European Ambassadors, a non-political volunteer initiative launched in 2016 to build connections between youth in
Eastern Partnership
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative of the European Union, together with its member states, and six Eastern Europe, Eastern European countries. The EaP framework governs the EU's relationship with the post-Soviet states of Armen ...
member states and the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness about the EU's cooperation with Eastern partner countries, increase civic engagement, and discuss various topics related to building a better
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
. YEAs Armenia organizes youth fairs, seminars and conferences, and members take part in various international events. YEAs Armenia maintains several "Euroclubs" throughout the country. The aim of these clubs are to bring Armenian youth in various communities closer to the EU. On 7 April 2023, a new Euroclub in
Vayk
Vayk () is a town and the centre of the Vayk Municipality of the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.
As per the 2016 official estimate, Vayk had a population of around 4,700. However, as of the 2022 census, the population of the town was 5,356, down ...
was inaugurated. The event was attended by EU ambassador to Armenia, Andrea Wiktorin.
Activities
On 12 November 2018, 44 Armenian YEAs participants held a meeting with the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia. The participants met with former EU ambassador to Armenia,
Piotr Świtalski
Piotr Antoni Świtalski (born 2 August 1957, in Kutno) is a Polish diplomat; permanent representative of Poland to the Council of Europe (2005–2010) and ambassador of the European Union to Armenia (2015–2019).
Life
Świtalski has graduated ...
and presented their plans to engage Armenian youth and promote closer Armenia–EU relations. In return, Świtalski stated, "We fully hope that you will bring the positive image of the European Union to Armenia. We will continue our primary cooperation with young people and women, because I am convinced that youth should play a more serious role in society. You, as young European ambassadors, are the future of this country."
On 14 February 2019, participants of YEAs Armenia visited EU institutions in
Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
and met with high-ranking officials as part of an event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership. Various topics were discussed including the future of the Eastern Partnership, participation in
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is the European Commission's programme for education, training, youth, and sport for the 2021–2027 period, succeeding the previous programme (2014–2020). As an integrated programme, Erasmus+ offers more opportunities for the mobi ...
, and
student exchange
''Student Exchange'' is a 1987 American television film, made-for-television comedy film directed by Mollie Miller and produced by Walt Disney Television. It originally aired November 29, 1987 as a presentation of ''Walt Disney anthology telev ...
programs.
On 8 March 2022, a group of Armenian YEAs gathered to show their support to Ukrainian YEAs and to express their solidarity with Ukraine.
In April 2022, YEAs Armenia representatives participated in the 202 European Forum for Young Leaders in
Katowice
Katowice (, ) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Katowice urban area. As of 2021, Katowice has an official population of 286,960, and a resident population estimate of around 315,000. K ...
, Poland.
On 26 March 2023, YEAs Armenia organized school visits across Armenia. Representatives presented the work of the EU in Armenia, the values of the EU, and methods in which the EU is contributing to Armenia's reform progress, development, and the promotion of
democracy
Democracy (from , ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitiv ...
and
civil society
Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.Oshakan.
Armenia–European Union relations
Armenia and the European Union have maintained positive relations over the years. Both parties are connected through the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which ...
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Education in Armenia
Education in Armenia is held in particular esteem in Armenian culture. Education developed the fastest out of the social services, while health and welfare services attempted to maintain the basic state-planned structure of the Soviet era, fol ...
European integration
European integration is the process of political, legal, social, regional and economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe, or nearby. European integration has primarily but not exclusively come about through the European Union ...