The Council of the European Union today agreed to establish a civilian European Union Mission in Armenia under the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The objective of the Mission is to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground, and ensure an environment conducive to normalisation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by the EU. According to Armenpress, the EU Council issued a statement about this.

“The establishment of an EU Mission in Armenia launches a new phase in the EU’s engagement in the South Caucasus. The EU will continue to support de-escalation efforts and is committed to work closely with both sides towards the ultimate goal of sustainable peace in the region,” said Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.”

EUMA will have an initial mandate of two years and its Operational Headquarters will be in Armenia.