Former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has welcomed the European Union’s decision to support Armenia from the European Peace Facility․

«Happy with this good news: Armenia will be able to have access to the European Peace Facility,» Colonna wrote in a post on X.

“This is the culmination of a long-term French initiative. France stands by Armenia.”

The European Council has adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of the Armed Forces of Armenia worth €10 million.

For the first time, the EU has decided to support Armenia from the European Peace Facility. The aim of this assistance measure is to enhance the logistical capacities of the Armenian Armed Forces, and to contribute to improved protection of civilians in crises and emergencies. It also aims to enhance the resilience of Armenia and accelerate interoperability of its Armed Forces in case of possible future participation of the country in international military missions and operations, including those deployed by the EU. Concretely, the adopted assistance measure will allow the provision of a fully-fledged deployable tent camp for a battalion-sized unit.

“Security is an increasingly important element of our bilateral relations with Armenia. This European Peace Facility measure will further contribute to the resilience of the country. We have a mutual interest to further scale up our dialogue on foreign and security policy, also looking into Armenia’s future participation in EU-led missions and operations” the Council said in a statement on Tuesday, July 23.

“The EU is committed to enhancing the comprehensive political and economic partnership with Armenia, based on the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, and to further strengthening our relations in all their dimensions. This includes intensifying dialogue and cooperation in the area of foreign and security policy, also encompassing the common security and defence policy (CSDP).”