EU announces €50 million aid package for Armenia
EU pledges over €50 million in support for Armenia amid Russian trade restrictions
The European Union pledged over €50 million in immediate financial assistance to Armenia in response to Russian trade restrictions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday.
In a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, von der Leyen criticized Moscow's recent export bans on Armenian agricultural products and flowers, calling the measures "economic coercion" and "weaponizing economic relations."
The EU support package will help diversify Armenian export markets and aid sectors affected by Russian restrictions. A shipment of 10,000 Armenian flowers is scheduled to arrive in Latvia, with additional deliveries planned.
Von der Leyen also highlighted the EU's existing Resilience and Growth Plan, which has assisted 7,000 Armenian businesses and created over 20,000 jobs since 2024. She welcomed Armenia's reopened trade routes with Turkey and noted Armenia's potential as a regional connectivity hub. The EU and Armenia plan to establish a joint task force to coordinate economic cooperation efforts.