Past Lectures

Tuesday 14th September 2004, 7.30PM
Armenians in the European Union: Insiders or Outsiders?

The significance of the European Union for the Armenian Diaspora has grown significantly in recent years. Turkey has embarked on a slow but seemingly inexorable march towards EU membership. Armenia has struggled for recognition as a European “neighbour”, and hopes this might lead to an entitlement to EU membership. And Europe is taking a growing interest in Karabakh too. But beyond the headline news, the EU is taking decisions every day which might impact the Armenian Diaspora or the Armenian republic. Will it include the preservation of Armenian Heritage in Turkey in its generously funded programmes for cultural heritage in Turkey? Might Armenian culture, Armenian education and Armenian studies in Europe benefit from EU funding? Might the Armenian Diaspora be a recognised component of the European mosaic?

Nicholas Tavitian will outline some of the key issues currently on the EU’s agenda as far as Armenians are concerned, and will suggest how Armenians and their organisations in Europe might both take advantage of the countless opportunities provided and contribute to shaping the institutions’ agenda on key issues.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Nicholas Tavitian is a specialist in EU public affairs, and Director of European Programmes for the AGBU.