European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Yerevan on 2 July 2026, announced a new €200 million Global Gateway package for peace through connectivity in the South Caucasus, aiming to mobilise up to €2 billion with financial partners for strategic transport, energy, and digital projects. She also unveiled a €20 million peace-fostering programme for border communities and additional support for Armenia, including €18 million to strengthen trade diversification and a proposal for Autonomous Trade Measures that would liberalise almost 80% of Armenian exports to the EU.
Von der Leyen, speaking alongside Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, congratulated him on his electoral victory, praising Armenia's democratic path and the spirit of the 2018 Velvet Revolution. She highlighted the initialling of the peace agreement last year as a history-making moment and noted the continued normalisation of relations with Türkiye, stating that opening borders would transform Armenia's economic future. The Global Gateway package, she said, could support projects such as border crossing points and road infrastructure in Armenia.
The €20 million peace-fostering programme is aimed at communities living along borders, supporting local economy, small businesses, farming techniques, and water management, while creating opportunities for dialogue. Von der Leyen also addressed economic pressure from Russia, describing it as economic coercion, and announced that Armenia would soon receive an additional €18 million as the final part of a €52 million support package discussed in early June. The proposed Autonomous Trade Measures would make almost 80% of Armenian exports to the EU tariff-free, covering nearly 99% of fresh fruits, vegetables, and plants previously exported to Russia, and over 90% of beverage and spirit exports. She noted that EU experts would be deployed to Armenia in mid-July to help producers and exporters seize opportunities from the privileged partnership.
Von der Leyen's speech contained concrete proposals, including specific funding amounts, a trade liberalisation plan with measurable targets, and a timeline for expert deployment. The policy orientation shifts EU-Armenia relations towards deeper economic integration and diversification away from Russian markets, with a conciliatory but firm approach towards Armenia's sovereignty. The announcements represent a significant policy development affecting multiple stakeholders: Armenian exporters gain preferential access to the EU single market of 450 million consumers, reducing dependence on Russia; EU consumers benefit from increased imports of Armenian goods; Russian economic leverage over Armenia is diminished; and EU taxpayers fund the support packages, with potential returns from enhanced regional stability and trade.