2020 begins with good news : Armenia has decided to join the Pompidou Group as of 1 January, thus becoming its 40th member state. In a press statement issued on 26 December 2019, the Armenian government stated that "given the opportunities provided by the cooperation with the Pompidou Group, (…) Armenia's membership can boost the activities against drug trafficking as well as international cooperation." The official notification made by the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe was received on 7 January 2020.