During a two-day visit to Armenia from 29 to 30 June, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced a political agreement between the negotiators of the new partnership agenda, which identifies priorities on economic development, security and resilience. “The EU and Armenia have never been as close as we are now,” Kaja Kallas said at a press conference in Yerevan on 30 June.
To back this agreement, the European Union is providing a €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia for the period of 2024 to 2027. This funding will support businesses, improve connectivity between Armenia and the European Union, and contribute to reform efforts in the country.
The EU will also provide financial housing and psychosocial support for vulnerable people, including the displaced Karabakh Armenians.
Kaja Kallas also announced that the Commission had adopted its proposal for the visa liberalisation action plan. “Once all conditions are met and this process is completed, it will bring Armenia and the rest of Europe closer together,” she said.
In Yerevan, Kallas and the Armenian Foreign Minister also signed the framework Participation Agreement enabling Armenia to contribute to EU missions globally, as part of the cooperation on crisis management.
Regarding relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Kaja Kallas told the press that the EU continued strongly to support the normalisation of relations between the two countries, “based on respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders”.
“There is no alternative to these three principles. We are pleased and encouraged with the progress of the bilateral normalisation track, because better relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan can open the way for lasting peace in the region,” she said.
Both sides also discussed the EU’s recently adopted Black Sea Strategy, and developments related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Russian hybrid activities in all neighbouring countries. In this regard, Kaja Kallas announced that the EU would provide substantial core funding for independent media in Armenia.
orer.eu
