Von der Leyen: EU prepares €50 million for Armenia following Russia’s export restrictions
The European Union is preparing a package of support measures for Armenia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a phone call on 4 June. They discussed the recent restrictive measures imposed by Russia against Armenia.
“This is nothing short of economic coercion, and it is unacceptable,” von der Leyen said. “By extending export restrictions on Armenian products, Moscow is weaponising economic relations for political pressure. We know this playbook all too well. This is why Europe stands firmly with Armenia.”
The EU support package includes immediate financial assistance, worth over €50 million. “And more will come,” von der Leyen promised.
The EU will also provide practical support for affected sectors, such as Armenian flowers. The first shipment of 10,000 flowers is planned to arrive in Latvia this week.
Von der Leyen also said the EU would keep connecting Armenian and European businesses, following up on the commitments taken at the bilateral summit in Yerevan in the beginning of May.
She reminded that since 2024 the EU has already helped 7,000 businesses and contributed to the creation of more than 20,000 jobs as part of the Resilience and Growth Plan.
Over the longer term, von de Leyen expressed Europe’s commitment to deliver on the ambitious Connectivity Partnership concluded at the summit.
The President of the European Commission also described as “an excellent step forward” the recent reopening of trade routes with Türkiye, including the railway connection through Georgia and Türkiye.
“Armenia has the potential to become a strategic hub connecting Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia,” von der Leyen said. “We are ready to support infrastructure and border crossing points as regional connections reopen.”
The Commission President said both sides would continue advancing these priorities together at the Connectivity Platform Ministerial on 23 June.
Von der Leyen also announced that a joint EU-Armenia Task Force would be set up in the near future. The body will oversee the implementation of all these initiatives and any further measures.
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