EU grants 18 million euro and duty-free access to Armenia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Yerevan on Thursday, announcing a substantial package of economic support for Armenia designed to help the country diversify its trade away from Russia and deepen ties with the European Union. The visit, part of a two-day tour of the South Caucasus, came amid heightened tensions between Armenia and its traditional ally, Moscow.

Von der Leyen pledged an 18 million euro grant to strengthen and diversify Armenian trade, marking the final installment of a 52 million euro EU support package pledged in early June. She also announced a proposal for "Autonomous Trade Measures" that would eliminate EU import duties on nearly 80 percent of Armenian exports, including most fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, and over 90 percent of beverages and spirits. She described this as a direct response to help reroute products that had relied on the Russian market.

Speaking alongside Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, von der Leyen stated that Armenia is facing significant economic pressure from Russia, which she characterized as "nothing short of economic coercion." She affirmed the EU's commitment, saying, "when pressure mounts on our...