European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses reporters in Yerevan on Jul. 2

The European Union has proposed tariff-free access for 80 percent of Armenia’s exports and pledged 52 million euros to Armenia.

This announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Yerevan on Thursday and, during a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, said that Armenia can count of the EU.

“The recent elections have shown the strength of Armenia’s democracy. The Armenian people have chosen reform and a closer partnership with our Union. No country should be pressured for a sovereign choice. This is why the EU is stepping up, with €52 million and proposed tariff-free access for 80 percent of Armenia’s exports to the EU. Armenia can count on us,” von der Leyen said.

In a statement, the European Commission said Armenia has positioned itself as a “beacon of stability and democratic resilience in the South Caucasus region. In this context, the EU welcomes the historic progress towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the continued normalization of relations with Turkey.”

The EU pledged to support transport, energy and digital connectivity projects that will help unlock the economic benefits of lasting peace in the region and will foster cooperation between its people. This commitment builds on the recent launch of the cross-Regional Connectivity Platform and the EU Connectivity for Peace Package of up to €200 million in connectivity projects for the South Caucasus, which has the potential to mobilize up to €2 billion in public and private investment.

To further support local communities in Armenia and Azerbaijan, von der Leyen on Wednesday announced an additional €20 million in Peace Dividends. This will ensure that people experience the tangible benefits of peace in their everyday lives, and includes investments in healthcare, demining, skills development and local businesses. By improving livelihoods and strengthening local resilience, the package will contribute to the creation of a lasting culture of peace.

EU’s financial support package for Armenia
Following von der Leyen’s announcement of a €52 million support package for Armenia in early June, the EU disbursed €34 million within two weeks. The remaining €18 million will be released shortly, bringing the total financial support for Armenia to €288 million, according to the EU statement.

This funding supports Armenia’s trade diversification by strengthening export capacity, infrastructure, geographical indications and facilitate greater access to the EU market. It is accompanied by a technical assistance package, which is being refocused to further strengthen these priorities, as identified by the Joint EU–Armenia Task Force.

The EU and Armenia will hold a high-level dialogue in Yerevan before the end of the year to jointly review progress on reforms under the Multi-Sector Budget Support Program for Armenia.

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