Yerevan Seeking Faster EU Aid Against Russian Sanctions

In the run-up to the elections, Russian authorities imposed de facto bans on the vast majority of Armenian-made products exported to Russia, the South Caucasus nation’s main trading partner. Moscow also pressed Pashinyan’s government to quickly choose between seeking to join the EU or remaining part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led economic bloc.

The EU condemned the Russian embargo, saying that Moscow is “weaponizing economic relations for political pressure” on Armenia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced on June 4 50 million euros ($58 million) in urgent economic assistance to Yerevan. She said the EU will also open its market to “some Armenian products, in particular agri-food.”

The EU released the first 34 million-euro installment of that aid on Friday. It said its Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will visit Armenia on July 5 to “advance the implementation of the support package and discuss further steps to strengthen EU-Armenia cooperation.”

For its part, the Armenian government has approved subsidies for domestic farmers, agribusiness firms and beverage producers that will find new export markets. Pashinyan said on Thursday that some of them are already signing “big and long-term” supply contracts with European partners. But he did not give any numbers.

According to Russian officials, Armenian agricultural exports to Russia totaled over $700 million last year. Armenian analysts are skeptical about Yerevan’s ability to quickly offset the potential loss of such export revenue.

Pashinyan and his political allies assured Armenians during the election campaign that Moscow will lift the trade restrictions if they win reelection. Russia’s state agricultural watchdog on the contrary banned more food imports from Armenia on June 11.