BRUSSELS — EU foreign ministers have approved the launch of a new civilian mission in Armenia aimed at helping the country counter hybrid threats, including foreign interference in elections, cyberattacks, and illicit political financing.
The mission, expected to begin in the coming months, will operate under a two-year mandate and will be known as the European Union Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia).
Armenia formally requested the deployment of the mission in December of last year. Following consultations in Brussels and Yerevan, EU ambassadors unanimously supported the proposal.
The new mission will effectively replace the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), established in 2023 to observe the Armenia–Azerbaijan border and contribute to confidence-building efforts. EUMA’s four-year mandate runs until early 2027 and includes more than 200 personnel.
In contrast, the new mission will consist of 20 to 30 representatives and will focus primarily on working closely with Armenian authorities to strengthen resilience against hybrid threats.