Joint press release: EU and Armenia reaffirm and advance their partnership during a leaders' meeting - European Commission

Published 18 hours ago• 3 minute read

Today in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula and European Council President António Costa, met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to reaffirm and advance the growing partnership between the European Union and Armenia. President and President Costa welcomed Armenia's ambitious reform agenda and expressed their support for Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic reforms.

During the meeting, the leaders welcomed the recent political agreement on the text of the EU-Armenia New Partnership Agenda, a key milestone in their shared commitment to deepening ties. They also noted with satisfaction the progress in the visa liberalisation process and Armenia's recent law 'On the Launch of the process of European integration'.

The EU reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Armenia's resilience and long-term development through substantial financial and technical assistance. Under the Global Gateway strategy, EU investments in Armenia are expected to reach EUR 2.5 billion, fostering inclusive growth and connectivity. The EUR 270 million Resilience and Growth Plan, announced in April 2024, boosted EU funding to Armenia by 50%. With EUR 200 million in grant assistance and EUR 70 million in grant funding to leverage investments, it continues to support Armenia's socio-economic reform agenda, closer sectoral cooperation, and investments in energy, transport, and the private sector.

In this context, the EU reaffirmed its support for Armenia's Crossroads of Peace initiative, to promote regional connectivity and reconciliation. President and President Costa also acknowledged Armenia's ongoing efforts to promote stability in the South Caucasus, particularly through continued engagement in peace talks with Azerbaijan and steps towards the normalisation of relations with Türkiye. The leaders also underlined the importance of the possibility to include Armenia's in the European Union's regional and economic initiatives, particularly within the framework of the Black Sea Strategy.

Furthermore, President and President Costa thanked Armenia for its close cooperation and the steps taken in preventing sanctions circumvention. Together with Prime Minister Pashinyan, they agreed to continue collective efforts to that end.

Security cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The leaders welcomed the launch of EU-Armenia Security and Defence Consultations, underscoring their shared commitment to peace, stability, and democratic resilience.

Addressing a range of security concerns, including foreign information manipulation and interference, disinformation, and cyber threats, the EU proposed to work together with Armenia to assess its needs, identify priority areas for cooperation, and leverage available EU instruments. To support Armenia's information ecosystem, the EU announced a new EUR 1.5 million envelope to strengthen independent media.

EU leaders welcomed that Armenia will host the European Political Community Summit and the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Finally, the leaders concluded that today's meeting represents an important step in EU-Armenia relations and called for continued progress at the next EU-Armenia Partnership Council this autumn.

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