EUMA to continue work in Armenia 

ArmInfo. On January 29, the EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the decision on the EU civilian mission in Armenia, according to which European observers will remain in the border areas of Armenia for another two years - until February 19, 2027. This was reported by the Armenian service of Radio Liberty.

According to the editor of the European Affairs Service Rikard  Jozwiak, the European Union left the mandate of the mission  unchanged, which was given two years ago: to help reduce the number  of incidents in the border and conflict-affected regions of Armenia,  reduce the level of danger for the population living in these  regions, and thereby contribute to the normalization of  Armenian-Azerbaijani relations on the ground.

The composition and number of observers, according to the draft  decision, will remain unchanged: 165 international and 44 Armenian  employees.

According to the EU Mission to Armenia, this decision should also be  approved by the foreign ministers of the EU member states in the near  future, which is actually formal, since the ambassadors of these  countries expressed the views of their governments today by voting in  favor of this project.

The mission's observation zone, according to the official statement,  extends along the entire Armenian- Azerbaijani border, including the  Nakhichevan section.

On January 23, 2023, the EU Council agreed to establish a new  civilian mission of the European Union to Armenia (EUMA) within the  framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The goal  of the declared Mission is to promote stability in the border areas  of Armenia, build confidence on the ground and provide conditions  conducive to the EU-supported efforts to normalize relations between  Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The EU civilian mission in Armenia included up to 100 specialists.  More than 8 million euros were allocated for the first four months of  the Mission. EUMA's initial mandate is for two years, and its  operational headquarters is located in Yeghegnadzor.

The mission began operating on 20 February 2023. It included, among  others, 8 French gendarmes and 15 police officers from Germany. In  addition, on 11 December 2023, following the EU Foreign Ministers'  meeting, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign  Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced his intention to  increase the number of the mission to 209 people.