EU border monitoring mission to remain until Armenia–Azerbaijan peace treaty is ratified

(HORIZON WEEKLY) – The European Union’s civilian monitoring mission in Armenia will continue its operations along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border until a full peace treaty is signed and ratified, according to Markus Ritter, Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA). Ritter’s statements, broadcast on Armenian public television this week, aim to clarify conflicting reports about the future of EU observers in the region.

Ritter said that although a draft peace agreement’s text includes language on removing “third-party forces” from the border, the mission will remain active “unchanged” on the Armenian side until the legal ratification process is complete. Only then, he noted, will there be no “need for our mission to be at the border”.

The EU mission, deployed in February 2023 at Yerevan’s invitation, has been patrolling the international border and reporting daily developments to Brussels as part of efforts to prevent escalation and support confidence-building between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Canada also participates in the mission, making it the only non-European country contributing personnel to the EU-led civilian monitoring operation.

Ritter also underscored the mission’s role in stabilizing tense areas and preparing “fertile ground” for negotiations, while acknowledging past operational challenges. He recalled that in summer 2023, Russian security forces temporarily blocked EU observers from accessing parts of the border, though access was restored in 2024 after their withdrawal.