The European Council has announced that the new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia) has been established under the Common Security and Defence Policy, aiming to enhance Armenia’s democratic resilience and strengthen its crisis management capacities. The announcement was published on the Council’s official website, Armenpress reports.
According to the statement, the mission will assist Armenia in addressing multi-layered threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberattacks, and illicit financial flows.
EUPM Armenia will provide strategic advice and support capacity-building across various ministries and state institutions, contributing to the development of policies responding to threats faced by both society and the state system. At the same time, it will promote a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach.
The mission will also deliver operational advice and include a project unit responsible for identifying and supporting the implementation of concrete actions within its mandate, in cooperation with like-minded partners.
As noted in the statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that Armenia faces large-scale disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks. In her assessment, the new EU civilian mission will provide expertise, strengthen institutional capacities, and establish a team to monitor areas requiring urgent intervention, contributing to maintaining Armenia’s resilience.
According to the statement, the mission will have an initial two-year mandate, and its operational headquarters will be located in Armenia. Stefano Tomat, Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability of the European External Action Service, has been appointed Civilian Operation Commander, responsible for strategic leadership and control of EUPM Armenia under the political oversight and strategic direction of the Council’s Political and Security Committee, as well as the overall authority of the High Representative.
The appointment of the mission head, who will manage operations on the ground, is expected in the near future.
It is noted that EUPM, deployed at the request of the Armenian authorities, is the second civilian mission under the CSDP framework, complementing the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) established in 2023, which monitors the situation on the ground and contributes to confidence-building and human security in conflict-affected areas.
In Brussels, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Armenia Armen Ghazaryan and representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations signed an administrative agreement aimed at deepening cooperation in civil protection in the areas of disaster prevention, preparedness, rapid response, and recovery.
“The agreement marks a new phase of cooperation in civil protection, strengthening response capabilities during emergencies and enhancing information exchange.
Within the framework of the agreement, support is envisaged across all phases of disaster risk management—from prevention and preparedness to response and recovery.
Our commitment to supporting Armenia in building a more resilient civil protection system is ongoing, contributing not only to Armenia’s security but also to broader regional stability,” said Maciej Popowski.
The sides also discussed issues related to the development of cooperation in civil protection, particularly the use of digital tools for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and rapid response to emergencies.
They also addressed opportunities for cooperation within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), exchange of experience, and effective organization of joint actions. Discussions covered deepening administrative and technical cooperation, sharing best practices, and improving coordination mechanisms during disasters.
On December 2, 2025, the EU–Armenia Partnership Council approved a new strategic agenda for cooperation, based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, marking an important step in deepening relations across various sectors, including security and defense.
