EU ambassadors are set to meet in Brussels today to discuss and decide on the extension of the European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia.
According to Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, unless unexpected developments arise, the ambassadors are expected to approve the plan, which would extend the EU’s civilian monitoring mission in Armenia for another two years, until February 19, 2027. The mission’s personnel structure is expected to remain unchanged, comprising 165 international and 44 Armenian staff members. Official statements confirm that the mission’s monitoring area spans the entire length of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including the Nakhichevan sector.
Despite the mission’s presence, observers have acknowledged its limitations. Due to the vast area under observation, the mission does not have the capacity to monitor every incident along the border in real-time. The patrol teams prioritize visiting locations where incidents have occurred and subsequently report their findings to the EU headquarters, using information from open sources and reliable eyewitnesses.
From the outset, Baku has strongly opposed the mission, alleging that the EU observers engage in espionage and compromise regional security. Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly criticized the deployment of the mission, even going as far as stating that its removal is a prerequisite for signing a peace agreement with Armenia.
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