The EU should fully embrace Armenia's strong aspirations for closer ties

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament welcomes the adoption by the plenary of a resolution on closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, endorsing the strong wish expressed by Yerevan to strengthen its relations with the EU. Our political group considers that if Armenia continues its path of sustained reforms, consolidating its democracy, this could set the stage for an evolving phase in EU-Armenia relations.

Given the progress achieved by Armenia in implementing the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission, Renew Europe believes it is time to launch the visa liberalisation dialogue. The EU must increase its support to Armenia, including through the European Peace Facility, and by boosting humanitarian and financial aid for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan must remain committed to a lasting and peaceful settlement of their long-standing dispute through dialogue and negotiations.

Renew Europe MEP, Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, said:

“We must convince Baku and Moscow to finally respect democracy and the Armenian people. Moscow's desire is to attack a government, which has done the unthinkable in the eyes of Vladimir Putin: democratising the country, reform it, support the International Criminal Court and freeze its participation in the Security Organization dominated by Russia.

Training, advice and delivery of military equipment, this is what France has chosen to provide to Armenia to prevent any new attempt of aggression and to re-establish a balance of power. Paris’ example and more recently Athens’ should be followed by other EU countries as well.”