On a visit to Vedi in Armenia on 10-11 November 2025, Congress Director Claudia Luciani had the opportunity to see the impact of a Centre of Expertise project to support communities hosting refugees from the Karabakh region. In Vedi, through Congress support, the local authority was able to provide additional kindergarten places and after-school activities for children. In addition, upskilling courses were organised for women to facilitate their economic empowerment and social integration, helping transform refugees from beneficiaries of assistance to actors of local economic development.
During the visit, which took place on the 29th Local Self-Government Day in Armenia, Ms Luciani also met with Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Christine Ghalechyan and Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Sargis Madatyan, to discuss ongoing cooperation and preparations for the next Congress monitoring visit to Armenia in 2026.
The outputs from the Congress projects were also presented at the stocktaking dialogue on the Council of Europe Comprehensive Response Package to the influx of refugees to Armenia, organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
