BRUSSELS — An event dedicated to the upcoming 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held at the European Parliament on Wednesday, September 30, according to Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The conference, which is scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, took center stage as European and Armenian officials gathered to outline key priorities and preparatory milestones.

The Brussels briefing was organized by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). It was held in cooperation with the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Opening remarks were delivered by Members of the European Parliament Stefan Köhler and César Luena, who serve as Co-Chairs of the European Parliament's delegation to COP17. Following their statements, Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Special Envoy for Armenia’s COP17 Presidency, delivered a keynote address detailing the progress of preparations in Yerevan. Margaryan highlighted the deepening cooperation between Armenia and the EU, underscoring Europe's vital financial role in biodiversity conservation and its integration into global economic policies.

Delegates at the event discussed the mobilization of resources, biodiversity monitoring, and international frameworks to bridge existing capacity gaps. Meeting participants praised Armenia’s inclusive preparation strategy and stressed that continued European engagement remains critical to ensuring a successful COP17 conference in Yerevan.