RA Deputy FM meets with Head of new EU Partnership Mission

ArmInfo. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan received the newly appointed Head of the European Union Partnership Mission to Armenia, Cosmin Gheorghe Dinescu.

According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry's press service, Kostanyan  welcomed the decision of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to deploy a  new EU civilian mission to Armenia, emphasizing the mission's role in  strengthening cooperation between Armenia and the EU in combating  cyberattacks, disinformation, and illicit financial flows.

The parties discussed the necessary steps to fully enhance the  mission's capacity and emphasized the importance of effective  cooperation with Armenian partners in implementing the activities  arising from the mission's mandate. Kostanyan wished Cosmin Gheorghe  Dinescu success in effectively implementing the mission's objectives,  confirming the Armenian side's readiness to support the mission's  establishment.

On June 10, the European Council announced that Cosmin Gheorghe  Dinescu was appointed Head of Mission of the newly established  European Union Partnership Mission to Armenia (EUPM Armenia) for an  initial term of one year, starting on June 11, 2026.

The decision was made by the EU Political and Security Committee.  EUPM Armenia was established at the request of the Armenian  authorities on April 26, 2026, for an initial period of two years,  with the aim of strengthening the country's resilience and crisis  management capacity. According to the mission's stated purpose, it  will support Armenia in countering multi-layered threats such as  cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation and interference  (FIMI), and illicit financial flows, providing strategic and  operational advice.

EUPM is the second civilian mission under the EU-led Partnership  Mission in Armenia. It differs from the EU Mission to Armenia (EUMA),  established in 2023, which monitors and reports on the situation on  the ground, as well as promotes confidence-building and human  security in conflict zones.

Earlier, EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas announced the allocation of  ?15 million to Armenia to "counter Russian propaganda." On March 4,  Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed  Russia's readiness to send a similar European mission to Armenia if  Yerevan so desires.