Ursula von der Leyen: EU preparing assistance package for Armenia  including immediate financial assistance of over EUR 50 million

ArmInfo. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.  According to the government's press service, The interlocutors discussed issues related to  responding to the economic challenges facing Armenia and further  developing bilateral cooperation.

Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to  supporting Armenia's economic resilience and development programs.  She informed that the EU is preparing an assistance package that  includes immediate financial assistance of more than 50 million  euros, as well as additional measures to expand export opportunities  for Armenian products and facilitate trade.  Various practical  assistance programs to be provided to the agricultural and  floriculture sectors were also discussed. In this context, the  importance of creating new opportunities for Armenian products in  European markets was emphasized.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of deepening business  ties and the consistent implementation of the agreements reached at  the Armenia-EU Summit in Yerevan, as well as the promotion of the  Armenia-EU strategic agenda. It was noted that EU support within the  framework of the "Resilience and Growth" program has already  contributed to the development of thousands of enterprises and the  creation of new jobs in Armenia.

The initiatives implemented within the framework of the Armenia-EU  Connectivity Partnership were also touched upon. Ursula von der Leyen  reaffirmed the EU's readiness to support the development of  infrastructure projects and regional communications.  The parties  agreed to establish a joint Armenia-EU working group, which will  coordinate the implementation of current programs and discuss new  areas of cooperation.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated  that Russia's recent restrictions against Armenia amount to nothing  more than economic coercion and are unacceptable. "By extending  export restrictions on Armenian products, Moscow is using economic  relations as a weapon for political pressure. We know this scenario  too well. This is why Europe stands firmly by Armenia," Ursula von  der Leyen said in a statement. According to her, the aid will not be  limited to the specified amount and will include measures to  facilitate trade in certain Armenian goods, in particular agri-food  products, as well as practical support for affected sectors, "such as  Armenian flowers, given that Russia recently restricted the import of  Armenian flowers on the basis of dubious accusations". "A shipment of  10,000 flowers is scheduled to arrive in Latvia tomorrow. More will  follow. We will also continue to connect our businesses, following  the commitments made at our recent summit in Yerevan," she said. The  head of the European Commission noted that EU support from 2024 under  the Resilience and Growth Plan has already helped 7,000 businesses  and contributed to the creation of more than 20 000 jobs. "Armenia is  a place where talent, innovation, and opportunity meet. For European  businesses, it is a key place to be," she emphasized.  Von der Leyen  also called the recent resumption of trade routes with Turkey,  including the railway connection through Georgia and Turkey, "an  excellent step forward." "Armenia has the potential to become a  strategic hub connecting Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central  Asia. We stand ready to support infrastructure and border crossings  as regional connections resume," she said. The head of the European  Commission noted that an agreement had been reached to establish a  joint EU-Armenia working group to ensure effective coordination in  all these areas, which will oversee the implementation of all these  initiatives and any further measures in the future.