EU Mission’s Mandate in Armenia Extended for Two More Years
On January 30, the European Council decided to extend the mandate of the EU civilian mission in Armenia for another two years, until February 19, 2027. A budget allocation of 44 million euros is planned for this purpose. This means that European observers will remain in Armenia’s border regions, monitor the situation, and, if necessary, draft relevant reports. The primary objectives of the mission remain monitoring and reporting on the situation on the ground, supporting the security of people in conflict-affected areas, and assisting in confidence-building between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The mission’s objectives remain unchanged. Additionally, it will continue to be led by Markus Ritter. Reports indicate that the mission consists of around 200 observers and civilian experts representing 25 EU member states and one third-party participant, Canada.
The EU civilian mission was established by a Council decision on February 20, 2023, and began its operations at that time. According to the official statement, the mission’s observation zone covers the entire length of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including the Nakhichevan section. Azerbaijan has repeatedly accused the mission of espionage and of destabilizing the region.
It is worth noting that this proposal was put forward by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.