Check against delivery! 

Dear Foreign Minister, ladies and gentlemen,  

It is really a pleasure to be here in Yerevan today and also visiting your wonderful country.  

I came here with a clear message. The EU and Armenia have never been as close as we are now. Earlier this year, you adopted a law to launch the EU accession process. We very much welcome your readiness to deepen our partnership.  

I am also very pleased today to announce the political agreement between the negotiators of the new partnership agenda which identifies priorities on economic development, security and resilience.  

To back this up, the European Union is providing €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia for the period of 2024 to 2027. This provides support to businesses. It improves connectivity between Armenia and the European Union and contributes to reform efforts. 

But our relations go beyond economics. We also provide financial housing and psychosocial support for vulnerable people, including the displaced Karabakh Armenians. People-to-People contacts are central to our relationship. 

That is why we are advancing in the visa liberalisation dialogue. I am pleased to announce that the Commission has adopted its proposal for the visa liberalisation action plan. Once all conditions are met and this process is completed, it will bring Armenia and the rest of Europe closer together. 

In the meantime, we are stepping up our cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region. The EU mission in Armenia is playing a major role in this effort. I visited yesterday their headquarters and saw firsthand the work that they are doing. 

The EU and Armenia also cooperate on crisis management. The Foreign Minister and I have just signed the framework Participation Agreement enabling Armenia to contribute to EU missions globally. 

Today, we also discussed the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The EU continues to strongly support the normalisation of the relations between the two countries based on respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. There is no alternative to these three principles. We are pleased and encouraged with the progress of the bilateral normalisation track, because better relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan can open the way for lasting peace in the region.  

Also, other topics we discussed. The EU just adopted the ambitious Black Sea Strategy last month. We will work with all partners, including Armenia, to implement it. Next to security and prosperity, we are keen to cooperate on the connectivity flagship of this strategy. 

We also discussed the developed developments related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and specifically the Russian hybrid activities in all countries, all neighbouring countries. Armenia's commitment to democracy and freedom is key. These values must be protected, especially in the face of hybrid threats, disinformation and foreign interference.  

At this critical moment, I am happy to announce that we will provide substantial core funding for independent media to sustain their reporting in Armenia supporting democracy and resilience.  

The EU will stand with Armenia to contribute its increased resilience and defend these shared values. 

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-274550 

Q&A. 

Q. How important is this for the EU, the urgent, rapid signing of the document? And I wanted to know whether you have raised that issue within the visit you had to Baku, the issue of the timeliness of the signing of the document. 

Thank you for your question. Like I said, we are definitely encouraged by the process of normalisation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And, of course, we would like to see the finalisation of this process as soon as possible. I think [with] what is going on in the world, we need more stability, not less. And of course, I raised this also in my visit to Baku. It is in our interest also when we talk about connectivity, when we talk about different possibilities that there are for both countries and Europe, and [for] connection with Central Asia, for example. It is in our interest that this peace process is finalised as soon as possible. 

Q. The EU, based on your proposal, was expecting to provide additional funding to Armenia for the peace facility. I would like to know what is the process, how is it going, and whether it's Hungary going to veto that? And in what phase is that allocation of funds for the peace facility? 

Thank you.  

So, the European Union is [composed of] 27 democracies. That is very hard, also for our decision-making process, but in the end, we always get to the decision. Sometimes one country blocks very often, but sometimes also some other countries are raising the issues. This is an ongoing process, and we try to find solutions. So yes, we are not there yet. That is true, but we are trying to find solutions. Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-274551