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Commitment to continue efforts towards Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. Agreement by Armenia to establish a monitoring mission on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Members:Armenia, Azerbaijan, EU, France
Topic:Security & Peace
Summit:1st Summit Czechia
Date:6 Oct 2022
Type:Verbal declaration
Nature:Political intent
Format:Plurilateral
Pre-existing
channels/arrangements:Yes

The quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Macron and President Michel on the margins of the first EPC Summit resulted in Armenia’s commitment to facilitate a monitoring mission on its side of the border with Azerbaijan. In turn, Azerbaijan committed to cooperate with the mission to the extent necessary. The sides came to an agreement that the EU mission would start in October 2022 and last for two months. The principal aim of the mission was to contribute to the restoration of peace and security, and to build confidence between the two states.

Follow-up

17/10/2022 Meeting of the Council of the European Union 

Following the EPC Summit, on 17 October 2022, the Council of the EU decided to deploy 40 monitoring experts to the Armenia’s internationally recognised border with Azerbaijan. Considering the temporary nature of the mission, it was decided to deploy monitoring experts from the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia).

20/10/2022- 19/12/2022

As of 20 October 2022, the first EU monitoring Capacity to Armenia (EUMCAP) was operational on the ground. The mission was deployed to monitor the situation on the Armenian side of the internationally recognized border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For two months, the EU monitors conducted more than 175 patrols. Through objective monitoring, analyzing and reporting to the EU on the situation on the ground, they have contributed to the stabilization of the situation between the two countries and allowed the EU to better support the work of the border commissions in the region. 

23/01/2023-20/02/2023

Following an assessment by the European Union Planning Assistance Team in Armenia, which concluded its mandate on 19 December 2022, the Council announced and then launched its European Union Mission in Armenia to continue contributing to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground, conduct active patrolling and reporting, and support normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan led by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. 

01/06/2023

At the second EPC Summit in Moldova, and after negotiations in the US and consultations in Moscow, the sides confirmed a common political will to normalise the relationship. During the meeting several topics were discussed – connectivity, security and rights, the border delimitation, and a peace treaty. Also, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to meet again on 21 July in Brussels. Following that, the next meeting was scheduled take place during the EPC Summit in Spain in autumn 2023. Germany joined discussions at the 2nd EPC Summit.

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