EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos on new regional investments, border infrastructure, and Armenia’s growing EU ties

In an exclusive interview with CivilNet, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos breaks down the tangible outcomes of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent regional tour. Following the announcement of the European Union’s new regional connectivity package for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Maragos outlines how a €200 million grant assistance framework is expected to leverage roughly €2 billion in public and private investments across transport, energy, and digital links. 

Crucially, Ambassador Maragos emphasizes that this €2 billion investment package comes on top of the €2.5 billion already projected and being deployed under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative specifically for Armenia. Highlighting ongoing local projects—such as green public transit initiatives like Yerevan’s new bus fleet—the Ambassador illustrates how European funding directly impacts daily infrastructure alongside broader regional resilience efforts. 

Looking toward future integration, the new capital allocations are set to back key transport initiatives, reinforcing Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” proposal and its integration into the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor. As efforts continue to unblock regional borders, Ambassador Maragos confirms concrete commitments from the EU to finance three crucial new border crossing facilities—two on the Turkish border and one connecting Yeraskh to Nakhchivan.