The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has once again held Russia responsible for applying "economic coercion" on Armenia for its rapprochement with the European Union and has warned that, if Moscow "closes its market" to Armenian products, the community bloc will respond by opening "the door" of the European market to those exports.
These statements were made during the second day of her tour of the South Caucasus, which took her to Armenia this Thursday. There she met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and from Yerevan she announced that she will propose to the Twenty-Seven and the European Parliament to establish a zero tariff for 80% of Armenian sales directed to the community market.
In addition, Von der Leyen confirmed the disbursement of the second tranche of a package of 54 million euros destined for Armenia, this time 18 million euros. The objective is to cushion the impact on the Armenian economy of the trade restrictions imposed by Russia on its exports in retaliation for Yerevan's pro-European turn, reinforced after Pashinyan's recent electoral victory.
"I want to congratulate the Armenian people, who have chosen democracy, peace, and a greater rapprochement with Europe. And this is a great step and a great show of confidence for which I am very grateful," she said in a public address at the beginning of her bilateral meeting with the Armenian head of government.
She then admitted to being "aware" that "not everyone likes" the rapprochement between the European Union and Armenia, and accused Russia of "trying to pressure" Yerevan to halt that process. Despite this, she stressed that the community bloc will remain determined to support its "friends."
"We will not let that happen. We know it. We will support you. And that is why I am here today also to make it very clear that, if Russia closes its market to Armenian products, the European Union opens the door to Armenian products to a single European Union market of 450 million consumers," she stressed.
The German conservative leader described the Russian measures against Armenia as "economic coercion" and underlined that "when pressure increases on its partners, the European Union redoubles its support."
European plan to reduce energy dependence on Russia
Among the lines of aid to Armenia, the President of the Commission has highlighted the importance of reducing energy dependence on Russia by diversifying its electricity supply, an area in which the European Union "has experience".
"Just as we are helping Armenia to diversify trade, which brings it resilience and strength, we also want to help Armenia to diversify its energy supply. For this reason, next week a group of European Union experts will travel to Armenia. We have a lot of experience in these types of situations. We have had it with Ukraine and in Moldova," she indicated.
Von der Leyen recalled that the European Union already has "extensive experience" in diversifying energy sources, after having found itself in the same "circumstance" of having to reduce its dependence on supply coming "from a certain country," referring to Russia.
The measures announced in Armenia are in addition to those that Von der Leyen herself presented the previous day in Azerbaijan, where she met with President Ilham Aliyev. That package is aimed at strengthening connectivity in the South Caucasus and underpinning peace between Baku and Yerevan.
Specifically, she detailed an investment program of 200 million euros within the framework of the 'Global Gateway' strategy, the initiative with which the EU promotes infrastructure, connectivity, and economic development projects in partner countries. With these resources, it is intended to mobilize up to an additional 2 billion euros in private capital.
Likewise, she announced a fund of 20 million euros within the 'Peace Dividend' program, intended to finance projects in Armenia and Azerbaijan in areas such as health, demining, capacity building, and support for small local businesses, with the aim that the population perceives concrete benefits derived from the peace process.