The Council of the EU decided to establish a civilian European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA).

The mission is initiated within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

This was announced on Monday, January 23, in the EU Council statement.

This mission is designed to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia and provide conditions for the normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku.

According to DW, the EUMA mission will consist of about a hundred peacekeepers and may be expanded in the future, a senior European Union official in Brussels shared.

According to him, the official permission of the Azerbaijani authorities is not required to start the mission, since it will operate exclusively on Armenian territory.

At the same time, the official stressed that the EU supports dialogue and cooperation with official Baku.

The new mission has a two-year mandate, its operational headquarters will be located in Armenia. EUMA representatives will conduct regular patrols and will report on the situation. This will contribute to a better understanding of the situation on the ground in the EU.

“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,” Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, noted.

Stefano Tomat, EEAS Managing Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, will head the civil operation.

In the near future, the Head of the Mission to oversee operations directly in Armenia will be appointed.

The EU received a letter with a proposal to send a civilian mission to Armenia from the Armenian Foreign Minister on December 27, 2022, after the completion of the two-month EU supervisory mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.