Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has welcomed a new €52 million European Union support package and a European Commission proposal to grant tariff-free access for around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU, describing the bloc as one of Armenia’s most reliable partners.
Speaking after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Yerevan on Thursday, Pashinyan said Armenia and the European Union are “closer than ever,” with their partnership increasingly translating into practical economic cooperation alongside political ties.
The Prime Minister thanked the EU for providing €52 million in budget support aimed at helping Armenia diversify its economy and expand exports, expressing hope that the Union’s assistance in promoting trade diversification would continue.
Pashinyan also welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to introduce Autonomous Trade Measures for Armenian goods, which would liberalize approximately 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU. He urged the swift adoption of the initiative by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, noting that the harvest season in Armenia has already begun.
According to Pashinyan, once the measures enter into force, Armenia would become the first country that is neither an EU candidate state nor has a free trade agreement with the European Union to benefit from the instrument.
“We hope that, through active cooperation with our partners in the EU institutions and member states, the decision-making process can be completed in a short period of time,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he and von der Leyen also discussed mechanisms to support Armenia’s economic diversification in response to current challenges, as well as cooperation in connectivity, energy, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and innovation.
Pashinyan highlighted recent progress in the EU-Armenia connectivity agenda, including agreements related to feasibility studies for three border crossing points and two northern highways, as well as cooperation with the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
He also stressed the importance of EU support for strategic energy projects, including energy storage facilities, and underscored Armenia’s interest in expanding regional transport and energy connectivity within the framework of the Crossroads of Peace initiative.
The Prime Minister thanked von der Leyen for the EU’s continued support for Armenia’s democratic institutions and economic resilience, saying the partnership contributes to the prosperity of both sides and lays the groundwork for even closer EU-Armenia relations.
