EU Prepares Trade Relief for Armenia After Russian Bans

The European Union is preparing emergency trade measures to support Armenia following Russian import restrictions on agricultural and food products. The European Commission is drafting autonomous trade measures that would reduce tariffs on Armenian exports, potentially covering approximately 20 product categories affected by Russian bans, including flowers, fruit, vegetables, and wine. The measures could apply to exports worth around €420 million annually. EU officials believe Russia imposed the restrictions ahead of Armenia's June parliamentary elections to pressure the government. The proposals are expected to be presented within weeks and will require approval from EU member states and the European Parliament. This initiative follows an earlier EU support package worth more than €50 million. Analysts cautioned that the measures may only partially offset Armenia's dependence on the Russian market, given logistical challenges facing the landlocked country.