Landmark moment for EU-Armenia relations
04 August 2024
The European Union has approved its first-ever financial assistance through the European Peace Facility (EPF) fund for Armenia. Following the decision, Armenia joins the list of other Eastern neighbours, such as Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, to receive special aid aimed at enhancing the countries' security. The €10 million aid package for the Armenian Armed Forces is specifically for non-lethal assistance to boost logistics, enhance civilian protection in emergencies, and improve coordination within Armenia's military. The decision, which took more than a year to process, moved forward only after the only objecting country in the European Council – Hungary, lifted its ban.
With the EU advocating for peace in the South Caucasus, this initiative is said to be an attempt to rebalance power between Armenia and Azerbaijan and provide Armenia with tools to strengthen its sovereignty. For Armenia, this is a big milestone and comes at a time when the country is trying to diversify its security and defence. In June, Armenia announced its intention to leave the CSTO, a Moscow-led security organisation, after stopping its contribution to the bloc. The spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry has already criticised the EU aid, arguing that the EPF is not about peace "but about war."
 | Anna Sukiasyan While some critics argue that the Brussels move doesn't go far enough, the decision to approve assistance to Armenia through the EPF is a significant political statement. This action, taken across various EU institutions, shows a broad consensus among EU states about the defence and security challenges Armenia faces. The decision also comes at a time when Armenia's security cooperation with the US is strengthening. After continually refusing to participate in Moscow-organised military drills, in July, Yerevan and Washington held another series of joint military exercises. Additionally, Armenia's defence ministry is to receive a US resident adviser, bringing it a step closer to the West. |
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