Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia has been extended for another two years. This step still needs to be verified by foreign ministers of those nations, but this is only a formal step, the EU mission described. “EUMA will stay committed to security in the region,” the mission’s head Markus Ritter stated.
According to the statement,
The Council today adopted a decision extending the mandate of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) for a further two years, until 19 February 2027, with a budget allocation of over €44 million for the period from 20 February 2025 until 19 February 2027.
What is the purpose of the EUMA mission?
This unarmed and non-executive civilian mission was deployed to Armenia’s boundary with Azerbaijan in February 2023, several months after Baku undertook an invasion of Armenian territory. EUMA builds upon previous EU efforts, specifically the European Union Monitoring Capacity (EUMCAP), which operated in late 2022. The mission was initiated following an official request from Armenian authorities amid ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan.
It observes and reports on the circumstances on the border from the Armenian side only, as a submission to also perform on the Azerbaijani side was flatly rejected. The mission, led by Dr. Markus Ritter, includes over 200 personnel including international and local staff. Its observers and civilian professionals come from 25 EU member nations and the third contributing state, Canada.
Armenia’s position regarding the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is generally positive and considers it a vital element in strengthening national security and stability in the region. Armenian officials have described EUMA as a vital confidence-building measure. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan, the mission plays a vital role in the efforts to stabilize and secure the region.
