04/05/2026
Հայաստանի արհմիությունների կոնֆեդերացիա -ի և Եվրոպական արհմիությունների կոնֆեդերացիայի համատեղ հայտարարությունը Երևանումանցկացվող Եվրոպական քաղաքական համայնքի Հայաստան֊Եվրամիություն Գագաթնաժողովին
On the occasion of the European Political Community meeting and the first-ever EU–Armenia Summit in Yerevan, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia and the European Trade Union Confederation welcome the reinforced relationship and high-level contacts between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union.
We highlight the important steps towards a closer cooperation between Armenia and the European Union taken under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Strategic Agenda, as well as the EU’s long-standing support to Armenia in implementing socio-economic reforms and enhancing resilience.
We reaffirm the commitment of trade unions to European values and to the European social model, including democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, social progress, and the protection of fundamental labour and social rights, as essential pillars of sustainable social and economic development.
Within the CEPA framework, democracy must be further strengthened through the meaningful participation of workers and their trade unions in shaping public policies and socio-economic reforms.
In this context, we call on European and Armenian leaders to ensure that:
Effective and institutionalized social dialogue between institutions, trade unions and employers’ organizations is fully guaranteed and strengthened, as it is essential for democratic governance, sustainable development, and to ensure Armenia’s alignment with European social and labour standards;
The implementation of CEPA and EU-supported reforms promotes quality jobs and social progress and fully respects labour rights, including the right to organize, collective bargaining, and the right to strike, in line with international and European standards;
The protection of trade unions and their members - including freedom of association and protection from discrimination or interference - is fully guaranteed in law and in practice;
Economic and partnership initiatives, including in energy, transport, and digital transformation, deliver quality jobs, fair wages, and safe working conditions - including through strong social conditionalities for public spending;
Reform processes, including those linked to the rule of law, transparency, and anti-corruption, are accompanied by strong social dialogue and the active involvement of trade unions;
EU support to Armenia’s reform and development agenda promotes equal economic, employment, and social opportunities for all, leaving no worker behind;
Labour standards and social rights are fully integrated into EU-funded investments, trade relations, and connectivity projects.
We welcome the EU’s continued role as a key partner for Armenia’s reform agenda, its support for democratic institutions, and its contribution to economic development, including job creation and skills development.
We also underline the importance of the EU–Armenia visa liberalization dialogue as a step toward greater mobility, people-to-people contacts, and opportunities for workers, while ensuring fair and protected labour migration.
At a time of global challenges, including ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty, we reaffirm that lasting peace, resilience, and prosperity cannot be achieved without social justice and strong labour protections.
Trade unions in Armenia and across Europe stand ready to contribute through strengthened cooperation, solidarity, and active engagement in shaping policies that affect workers’ lives.
We stress the crucial role of trade unions and call for their full recognition and meaningful involvement in all decision-making processes.
We welcome the signing of the Tripartite Republican Collective Agreement in Armenia in January 2026 as a positive step.
However, we regret that Armenia still lacks a functioning, permanent, and institutionalized system of social dialogue and collective bargaining, in line with its obligations under ILO standards and CEPA.
Furthermore, we call for:
Ensuring that economic development translates into quality employment, fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protection;
Continued EU support for reforms that promote equal economic, employment, and social opportunities for all, contributing to a resilient and inclusive Armenian society.
Together, we call for a partnership that delivers not only economic growth, but also quality jobs, dignity, fairness, and opportunity for all workers in Armenia and across Europe.
https://www.etuc.org/en/document/joint-statement-european-trade-union-confederation-etuc-and-confederation-trade-unions?fbclid=IwRlRTSARlaxBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEexftyEPU6XEO7rYR4sYrJ1uGBlFYOooOpS3MJns-jFUOcz9u4LdZxmSJn6WM_aem_RaCXdSP8sWDdfmM5XQ16qA
On the occasion of the European Political Community meeting and the first-ever EU–Armenia Summit in Yerevan, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia and the European Trade Union Confederation welcome the reinforced relationship and high-level contacts between the Republic of Armenia and the E...
