EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced wide-ranging economic cooperation plans between the EU and Armenia and Azerbaijan in her two-day visit to the countries. In her visit to Baku on Wednesday, von der Leyen announced up to €200 million ($230 million) in grants across the South Caucasus and a €20 million ($21 million) ‘peace-fostering programme’ in Azerbaijan, while in Armenia, she revealed ‘tariff-free access for 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU’ in addition to the €52 million ($59 million) aid already publicised in June.
Von der Leyen’s visit to the two countries comes in the wake of Armenia’s parliamentary election in June, which saw Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party win a majority of seats, partially on a platform of deepening ties with the EU. The election has been seen as a geopolitical turning point for Armenia as it solidifies its slow shift away from Russia towards the West.
At the same time, Azerbaijan has also expanded its relationship with the EU amidst its own troubles with Russia and a heightened interest in the country’s energy resources as the EU seeks to fully end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
