EU delays €50 million aid to Armenia ahead of elections

The European Union has postponed the disbursement of €50 million in financial assistance to Armenia ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections, according to a report by Yerevan-based Hraparak newspaper cited by Caliber.Az.

The funds were reportedly intended to support efforts to counter hybrid threats and disinformation. In response to the delay, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan instructed Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to seek clarification on the conditions for transferring the funds during a meeting in Brussels with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

According to the report, Kallas said the assistance had been delayed because the European Union is prioritising its commitments to Ukraine. Officials in Brussels added that “every effort will be made to resolve this issue.”

Hraparak reported that the explanation triggered dissatisfaction from Pashinyan. Citing a source, the newspaper quoted him as saying: “Right now, we need this money more than Ukraine does. These €50 million will not help Ukraine fix the situation, but we need them very much.”

By Tamilla Hasanova