EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined European Council President Charles Michel Costa in issuing a joint statement on the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty, welcomed as a key step in resolving a long-standing regional conflict. This development culminates years of EU diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering peace between the two neighboring countries.
Diplomatic Milestone and Regional Implications
The initialling of the Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations Agreement, accompanied by the Political Declaration signed in Washington DC under the auspices of U.S. President Donald Trump, marks what the EU characterizes as a "major development". Both leaders, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, have made decisive moves towards bilateral normalization, a trend previously encouraged by EU leaders during multilateral forums such as the European Political Community summit.
Concrete Policy Orientation and EU Role
The statement stresses the importance of timely and steady implementation of the agreement's provisions to ensure sustainable peace and normalization. President von der Leyen underscores the EU's readiness to invest in regional connectivity, signaling a concrete policy orientation towards facilitating economic integration and social reunification across conflict-affected populations. While exact budget commitments or timelines are not detailed, the EU's willingness to back infrastructure and development projects highlights a move towards proactive engagement beyond political statements.
Impact on Key Stakeholders
For Armenia and Azerbaijan, the treaty proposes major shifts toward peace and cooperation, potentially easing long-standing tensions and opening avenues for economic development. EU producers and investors might see new opportunities from enhanced regional trade and connectivity initiatives, while EU taxpayers could expect increased funding towards peacebuilding projects. Conversely, national authorities in both countries face the challenge of operationalizing the treaty's provisions amid domestic pressures, and civil society groups may scrutinize actual progress on reconciliation and human rights aspects.
This declaration by President von der Leyen represents a diplomatic supporting role, emphasizing collaboration and peacebuilding without altering EU institutional powers, but signaling a clear preference for increased regional integration over bilateral sovereignty disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.