The European Union wants to help Armenia diversify its energy supplies, and a team of EU experts will arrive in the country next week to support those efforts.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks during a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on July 2, responding to a question on whether the European Union is prepared to assist Armenia if Russia uses natural gas prices as a tool of political pressure, given the country’s heavy dependence on Russian gas supplies.

“When it comes to energy, you need a comprehensive and multi-layered strategic approach. Just as we are helping Armenia diversify its trade, which will strengthen the country’s resilience, we also want to help Armenia diversify its energy supplies. That is why a team of experts from the European Union will travel to Armenia next week. We have extensive experience in situations like this. We have seen it in Ukraine, we have seen it in Moldova, and we as the European Union have also experienced elements of such situations. So we have considerable expertise in helping countries diversify their energy supplies,” von der Leyen said.

She added that the EU is also contributing to regional energy security through electricity interconnections, stressing that new routes must be built while regional energy networks are strengthened.

“This includes a €25 million investment under the Caucasus Transmission Network project. We are also supporting a significant expansion of Armenia’s renewable energy generation. This is locally produced energy. It is your energy resource, produced here in Armenia, and it gives you independence, energy security, and greater resilience. So we are here to support you in a situation that we know very well,” the President of the European Commission said.

On May 28, the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure received, through the Russian Embassy in Armenia, a letter from Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev warning that Russia could suspend or unilaterally terminate the agreement signed in December 2013 if Armenia continues pursuing EU membership.

The agreement concerns cooperation in the supply of natural gas, petroleum products, and rough natural diamonds, and also serves as the framework under which the price of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia is determined.