Changes in German Foreign and Development Policy: What’s in it for Armenia?

The Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office - South Caucasus Region invites you to participate in a discussion on “Changes in German Foreign and Development Policy: What’s in it for Armenia?”.

27 June 2023, 1-3.00 pm

Location: Goethe Center Yerevan, Mher Mkrtchyan 1, 0010 Eriwan

Language: English with translation into Armenian

German foreign policy has undergone significant changes following the consolidation of the current governing coalition and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. First, the German government, in its 2021 coalition agreement, pledged to pursue a feminist foreign policy. Consequently, in March 2023, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development adopted guidelines on feminist foreign and development policy, which now awaits implementation. Simultaneously, since February 2022, Germany has shed its previous, more cooperative approach towards Russia and has provided strong military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. Germany has also just adopted its first-ever National Security Strategy.

There have been changes towards Armenia, too: Germany added Armenia to its list of bilateral development partners, and during the recent European Political Community summit in Moldova, German chancellor Olaf Scholz joined French President Emmanuel Macron in the EU-facilitated talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

What are the old and new tenets of German foreign policy and how are they coordinated with and integrated into EU external relations? How is German and EU foreign policy towards Armenia developing? And what else could both do to assist Armenia on its path to democracy and stability?

1.00 pm    Arrival, small lunch reception
1.30 pm    Welcome remarks: Erik Tintrup, Chargé d'Affaires, 
                   German Embassy to Armenia
1.35 pm    Panel discussion

• Merle Spellerberg, Member of the German Bundestag, member of the committees on foreign affairs and defense, rapporteur for the South Caucasus of the green parliamentary group
• Maria Karapetyan, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, member of the committee on foreign relations
• Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of EU Delegation to Armenia
• Ara Margarian, European Department Head, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia (tbc)
• Andranik Shirinyan, Freedom House, Armenia Country Representative

Moderator: Sonja Schiffers, Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation Tbilisi Office - South Caucasus Region

3:00 pm     END