Armenia Expects €20 Million from the European Peace Facility After Hungary Lifts Veto

YEREVAN — Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that, following negotiations, it has been possible to reach an understanding with Hungary, resulting in the removal of Budapest’s veto on allocating €20 million to Armenia from the European Peace Facility.

In response to an inquiry from CivilNet, MFA spokesperson Ani Badalyan stated that once the necessary internal procedures are completed, the Armenian side expects approval of a second support package for Armenia under the European Peace Facility.

“We highly value the consensus formed both among each of the EU’s 27 member states and at the EU level overall. During the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, all EU member states reaffirmed their support through this and other instruments in discussions with Minister Mirzoyan. Therefore, we can state that political agreement has been reached, and following the completion of the required internal procedures, we expect approval of the second tranche of support for Armenia under the European Peace Facility,” Badalyan said.

On December 4, on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. During the meeting, both ministers expressed mutual readiness to implement concrete programs through existing EU instruments. They emphasized the importance of continued efforts to fulfill the agreements reached, aimed at expanding both bilateral relations and Armenia–EU cooperation. In this context, the sides highlighted their shared willingness to advance specific initiatives using available EU mechanisms.

“We appreciate the consensus formed by each of the EU’s 27 member states and at the EU level as a whole,” Badalyan reiterated.

On December 15, during a meeting held in the format of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan highly praised the support and consensus surrounding the Armenia–EU strategic partnership agenda and the implementation of various joint initiatives.

In March of this year, Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, submitted a proposal to the EU Council to provide Armenia with a second package of non-lethal assistance under the European Peace Facility. The assistance has not yet been disbursed due to Hungary’s veto, which had blocked the decision.

In June, Kallas stated that the EU had not yet reached a final decision on allocating €20 million to Armenia from the European Peace Facility but was working to find a solution.

In 2024, within the framework of the European Peace Facility, the EU provided assistance worth €10 million to Armenia’s armed forces.