YEREVAN. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The Council of the European Union has made a decision to increase the size of its civilian monitoring mission, the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA), and determined its financial expenses until 2025.
"Welcoming the EU Council decision on enlargement of EUMA. The increase in mission personnel underlines the EU's commitment to peace and security in the region," the mission said on X.
According to the text of the decision published on the EU's website, the basic amount of finances intended to cover expenses related to the mission shall be 39.035 million euros in the period from January 23, 2023 to February 19, 2025.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in December 2023 that the EU would increase the EUMA's size from 138 to 209 people.
On February 20, 2023, the EU announced the EUMA's launch for the duration of two years. The objectives of the mission are to carry out scheduled patrols and provide reports on the situation, promote stability in Armenia's border regions, and ensure conditions contributing to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the EU's support.
On November 20, 2023, Armenia and the EU signed an agreement on the status of the EU mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.