EU-Armenia Partnership Council, 17 December 2020
The Partnership Council also addressed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, underlining the EU’s support to Armenia’s efforts protect lives and livelihoods, and to reopen societies and the economy.
The EU and Armenia also discussed the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the cessation of hostilities on 10 November 2020, the EU’s role in supporting recovery and reconciliation, as well as regional issues.
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“The EU welcomes and supports Armenia’s strong commitment to further pursue its reform agenda and to fully implement our bilateral agreement, despite the challenges the country is confronted with”, said High Representative, Josep Borrell. “The EU stands ready to assume a role in supporting and shaping a durable settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in close complementarity with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to use our peacebuilding and reconstruction tools to support this.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, underlined that “The EU is strongly committed to support Armenia’s socio-economic recovery and continued domestic reforms for the benefit of the Armenian citizens and businesses. With substantial assistance already provided to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s priority reforms in justice and police, we stand ready to explore how to further support Armenia under the current challenging circumstances. We are also ready to contribute €10 million to further humanitarian assistance and to work towards more comprehensive conflict transformation and longer-term socio-economic development.”
Ahead of the Partnership Council, the European Union issued a report on developments in Armenia and EU-Armenia relations since May 2019. The report underlines Armenia’s progress in implementing the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, its commitment to domestic reforms, and the key role of the EU in supporting them.
The EU-Armenia Partnership Council took place one day ahead of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council. These meetings reiterate the importance of the EU’s partnership with the countries in the region and the EU’s support to its recovery and to sustainable peace.
- Joint Staff Working Document: Partnership Implementation Report on Armenia
- EU relations with Armenia (background information)
European Union