The stated aim of the mission is to contribute to the border commissions work on
boundary delimitation of the
international border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, facilitate the restoration of peace and security in the area, and to build overall confidence between the two states.[6][7]
On 13 October 2022, a technical group consisting of 17 specialists from the European Union arrived in
Yerevan to discuss logistics of the EU mission in Armenia.[10] Secretary of the
Security Council of Armenia,
Armen Grigoryan, described the European Union as an additional guarantor of security in the region and confirmed Armenia's readiness to support the mission in all matters.[11]
On 17 October 2022, it was announced that 40 experts from the EU would be deployed to Armenia following a meeting held in
Luxembourg.[12] The EU also confirmed the experts will be deployed on the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan during the course of the observer mission. Most of the EU monitors will be transferred from
Georgia, where a large number of EU monitors are currently stationed as part of the
European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia).[13][14]
While the timeframe for deployment has been set at an initial two months, EU officials believe a more permanent solution, like a dedicated "EUMM Armenia" will be needed in the long term. Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia stated, "The parties are now looking to us; the parties are increasingly feeling that we can better meet the situation that Russia can no longer" and "the fact is now they think that we can be first, an honest broker, and second we promise things for the future that Russia cannot promise – we promise to get closer to the European Union."[15]
On 19 October 2022, EU monitors visited Armenian settlements along the border with Azerbaijan. The monitors were accompanied by local government representatives and members from the
Armed Forces of Armenia. The EU delegation toured settlements which had been targeted by
Azeri shelling in September 2022. The governor of the
Gegharkunik Province, Karen Sargsyan stated "Azerbaijan violated the borders of Armenia in several directions in both 2021 and 2022 and entered our territory several kilometers deep in several directions. The presence of the Azerbaijani armed forces terrorizes the residents of the bordering settlements, disrupts their normal life and activities".[16]
On 20 October 2022, Prime Minister of Armenia
Nikol Pashinyan stated "I have to record with pleasure that the partners of the European Union have responded very promptly and made a decision." The Prime Minister also stated, "the initial observation mission shall work for two months, but there are opinions among experts that it is necessary to extend this period, or to try to make this observation mission permanent," during a meeting with
government ministers.[17]
On 3 November 2022, a third meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani border commissions took place in
Brussels.[20] The Secretary General of the European External Action Service
Stefano Sannino, stated "The European Union urges the sides to take steps to improve security on the ground and to achieve progress on delimitation".[21] There was also speculation that Armenia and Azerbaijan could sign a Western-backed peace treaty by December 2022 in
Tbilisi, Georgia.[22]
On 4 November 2022, Foreign Minister of Armenia
Ararat Mirzoyan received the Head of the EU Monitoring Capacity
Marek Szczygieł [
pl] and EU ambassador to Armenia
Andrea Wiktorin. Marek Szczygieł expressed gratitude to the Armenian side for the support provided to the EU civilian mission.[1]
On 19 October 2022, the
OSCE confirmed it would deploy a "needs assessment team" to Armenia between 21 and 27 October 2022. On 20 October 2022, the EU confirmed that the OSCE mission is independent and non–related to the EU's mission, however, the EU's mission would liaise with all relevant international organizations, including the OSCE.[4]
Possible extension
On 6 December 2022, French Minister for
Europe and Foreign Affairs,
Catherine Colonna said the EU observation mission's mandate in Armenia needs to be extended. Colonna stated, "Tension between the two countries has not eased, both on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and in
Nagorno-Karabakh. And it shows the lack of trust and security guarantees that Russia claimed to provide in this region. That is a fact. In this context, France and the EU are eager to help Armenia." The minister also stated, "The mission should remain as long as necessary. This is our belief and the desire of Armenians."[23]
Also on 6 December 2022, head of the Program for International Order and Democracy at the
German Council on Foreign RelationsStefan Meister stated, "The EU needs to be more engaged to help Armenia preserve its sovereignty and stay on its path of democratization and reform. The mission should be extended until a border agreement has been reached" and "the EU should become more active player in finding a peace agreement on Karabakh and border delimitation agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. That means, the EU should further internationalize the conflict pushing for a EU Monitoring Mission between both states until a border agreement has been decided. It should offer to send peacekeepers into Nagorno-Karabakh to replace Russia. Russia cannot give an international legitimization to any agreement, the EU can."[24]
On 19 December 2022, the European Union Monitoring Capacity to Armenia completed its mission.[25] High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Josep Borrell stated, "The deployment of 40 European monitoring experts has proved to be effective and contributed to building confidence in an unstable situation. Today we start a new phase in the EU's engagement in the South Caucasus, with a transitional team that will prepare the ground for a possible longer term EU mission in Armenia, with the ultimate goal of contributing to sustainable peace in the region."[26]
Armenia:
Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan stated, "The Armenian side is open to all proposals that will strengthen our security in order to avoid
border clashes. The Minister also said, "We see efforts from
the West to support both sides to come to a common reconciliation."[27]
Bulgaria: Bulgarian president
Rumen Radev emphasized that Bulgaria supports the fact-finding observation mission of the EU.[28]
Canada: On 2 December 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mélanie Joly highlighted the role of the EU observation mission in Armenia towards maintaining stability in the region, and expressed support for the mission.[29]
Germany: On 19 October 2022, the
German Foreign Ministry stated that Germany would like to participate in the EU observation mission to Armenia and that Germany is prepared to send experts to Armenia in November 2022.[33]
Lithuania: The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The idea to establish an EU monitoring mission at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border comes to life. It was first voiced by the EU-mandated trio of the Austrian, Lithuanian, and Romanian Foreign Ministers during their visit to the South Caucasus last June. If durable, it will become a significant step towards lasting peace in the region."[34]
NATO: NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs & Security Policy, Javier Colomina, stated "Good news to see our partners discussing border delimitation. NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and welcomes EU efforts towards that end, including hosting talks and launching of the European Union Monitoring Capacity".[35]
Norway: Foreign Minister
Anniken Huitfeldt reiterated Norway's support for Armenia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, while expressing hope for the EU's mission.[36]
United States: The
United States Department of State announced, "The United States is particularly pleased with the progress on an EU observer mission that will be dispatched to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and this mission has the potential to build confidence between both sides."[37]US Secretary of StateAntony Blinken also welcomed the progress in official peace talks between the two countries and expressed the willingness of the US to contribute to the negotiation process.[38]
Negative
Azerbaijan: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated, "Azerbaijan vehemently rejected an attempt to deploy a civilian mission of the European Union to the Armenian border from the Azerbaijani side" during a meeting held with
Vladimir Putin on 14 October 2022.[39]
Belarus: President of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko stated, "Russia is already a mediator in the settlement of the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and that is quite enough".[40]
Iran: Iranian president
Ebrahim Raisi rejected "any European military presence under any guise" in the region.[41]
Russia:
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Maria Zakharova said, "We see this as yet another attempt by the EU to interfere by any means in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, to oust our country's mediation efforts."[42] Meanwhile, during a
CIS meeting in
Astana on 12 October 2022, Russian
Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov stated that the
CSTO was also ready to send observers to Armenia.[43]
Turkey: Foreign Minister
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu criticized the EU and stated, "The EU does not fulfill the terms of its agreements".[44]