The EU Is Preparing A Package Of Emergency Trade Measures To Support Armenia
- 17.06.2026, 11:28
We're talking about 420 million euros a year.
The European Union is preparing a package of emergency trade measures to support Armenia following Russia’s imposition of restrictions on imports of Armenian goods, according to the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with Brussels’ plans. According to the newspaper, the European Commission is developing trade measures that will reduce tariffs on shipments of Armenian agricultural and food products. According to the publication’s sources, the measures will affect most of the 20 product categories subject to Russian restrictions. The value of these exports is estimated at 420 million euros per year. “Now is the time to step up and support them, to show that we can be a reliable partner,” said one of the FT’s sources.
The development of new measures faces a number of challenges. FT sources reported that supporting shipments of Armenian cognac is raising questions, as cognac production in France is of great importance. Logistics for perishable goods transiting through Turkey or Georgia remain an additional challenge.
Trade measures could be presented in the coming weeks. Their adoption requires the approval of a majority of EU member states and the European Parliament. According to FT sources, the issue was discussed by EU foreign ministers and the Armenian foreign minister at a meeting in Luxembourg. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also plans to visit Armenia early next month.
Armenia remains a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. This gives Moscow significant influence over the country’s foreign trade and complicates the conclusion of trade agreements between Yerevan and the European Union. Due to restrictions on the import of Armenian products into Russia, the country’s GDP could shrink by 2%. This was stated by the chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Martyn Galstyan, according to News.am.
Ahead of the parliamentary elections on June 7, Russia has been systematically imposing restrictions on imports of Armenian products. First, flowers were banned under the pretext of phytosanitary requirements. Then the restrictions were extended to mineral water, wine, cognac, fruits, vegetables, and fish. Three days before the vote, the EU announced financial aid for Armenia and the purchase of thousands of flowers that had previously been supplied to the Russian market. Pashinyan’s party won the election. He said that the European Union had promised Armenia duty-free trade in agricultural products.
“The recent €50 million in EU aid was more of an emergency measure to buy up flowers and other goods. It was provided very quickly and demonstrated that Russia’s actions had backfired,” said Richard Giragosian , founder of the Yerevan-based think tank Regional Studies Center . He believes that the proposed measures will only partially offset Russia’s influence on the Armenian economy. “This is not enough to offset Russia’s influence,” he noted.