Euro-pessimism notwithstanding, the EU has already made its mark on the European continent and is there for the long run. So it will continue to shape the environment of Armenia and of the Armenian Diaspora. Yet political institutions, particularly when they operate on a continental scale, can be rather blunt instruments. That is why they need, and often value, dialogue and cooperation with civil society to understand the issues, resolve contradictions, gather information, develop consensus and help develop policy. Because the European Union has expressed a commitment to cultural diversity in Europe, to the development and stability of the Armenian State, and to peaceful coexistence between peoples, there is reason to expect that Armenians and the European Union share an agenda.
