Request price: EU may demand new concessions from Armenia
The European Union is preparing to temporarily cancel duties on almost 80% of goods from Armenia, but in return, Yerevan will have to fulfill a number of conditions — for example, not to create any new obstacles to the import of European products. At the same time, in the future, Armenia may be required to take new steps in the framework of rapprochement with the common EU foreign policy, the European Parliament told "Izvestia". But it will not be possible to replace the Russian market with the European one by canceling duties — expensive logistics and complex certification hinder this, experts say. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that rapprochement with the EU does not give Armenia guaranteed advantages and gradually weakens its traditional ties with Moscow.
Under what conditions does the EU remove duties
On September 15, members of the European Parliament will vote on the issue of trade liberalization with Armenia. Earlier, the initiative to abolish duties on a part of Armenian exports was already supported by the EU Council. It is expected that after the entry into force of the regulations, these measures will be in effect for two years.
The European Union attributes its decision to restrictions on the supply of Armenian products to Russia. Moscow did not officially impose trade measures against Yerevan: the restrictions came from relevant departments due to claims about the quality and safety of goods. In particular, the Rosselkhoznadzor restricted the import of a number of agricultural products, and Rospotrebnadzor restricted the import of "Jermuk" mineral water.
Brussels hopes that the abolition of part of the duties will help Armenian producers reorient part of their supplies to the European market. However, the EU's preferences will not be unconditional.
According to the draft regulations, Yerevan must confirm the origin of goods, cooperate with EU customs authorities during inspections, not introduce new barriers to European products and comply with the basic provisions of the agreement with Brussels. In case of violations, the European Union will be able to suspend the preferential treatment. In the future, Brussels' demands may go beyond the exclusively commercial sphere, Fernand Kartheiser, a member of the European Parliament from Luxembourg, told "Izvestia".
— So far, I do not expect that in this case the EU will require Armenia to act against Russia. However, I have no doubt that in the future Armenia will be asked to take such measures, given that it has committed itself in principle to moving closer to the EU's common foreign and security policy. I hope that Armenia will be able to resist such pressure, as it does not meet its interests," he said.
The current measures do not imply duty—free import of European goods to Armenia - Yerevan only undertakes to refrain from new duties and barriers. However, if further rapprochement with the EU leads to deeper import liberalization, this may already create problems with the EAEU rules, says Dmitry Sidorov, head of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at MGLU. According to him, with zero duties, European products will theoretically be able to enter the markets of other Union countries through Armenia, which will require special mechanisms and agreements.
Control of the origin of goods will become a prerequisite for obtaining benefits. This measure is designed to eliminate situations when products from other EAEU states are registered as Armenian and imported into the EU without duties.
Nevertheless, a total audit should not be expected, says Hayk Khalatyan, head of the Analytical Center for Strategic Studies and Initiatives. Even now, Brussels has enough tools to establish the origin of the products, and the Armenian authorities themselves can provide the necessary data upon request.
However, the abolition of duties alone will not allow Yerevan to replace the Russian market with the European one, the expert believes. In addition to customs barriers, there are much more serious obstacles — expensive logistics, complex certification and the need to promote products in a new location.
To take advantage of the benefits, Armenian manufacturers will have to adapt their quality control regulations and procedures to the strict economic and sanitary rules of the EU. At the same time, the removal of duties is directly linked to Armenia's compliance with "democratic principles." Any rollback towards "authoritarianism" will be a reason for Brussels to freeze benefits. Therefore, the EU's move should be perceived more as a political gesture of support for Armenia, which is convenient to present to the local society as a real help from Brussels.
How the EU is expanding its influence in Armenia
Trade privileges are only a part of the rapprochement between Yerevan and Brussels. In December 2025, the parties adopted a new Strategic Partnership Agenda, which involves close cooperation in the economy, energy, transport, digital sphere, as well as in the field of security and defense. And in May 2026, the first ever EU–Armenia summit was held in Yerevan.
Brussels also allocates funds to Yerevan under the sustainability and growth program, develops cooperation with its law enforcement agencies and promotes visa liberalization. In May, the parties initialed a working agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the republic's Interior Ministry, and the Armenian armed forces received the first aid supplies through the European Peace Fund.
The media reported that Western partners are demanding that Armenia introduce a visa regime with Russia as a precondition for future liberalization of travel to the European Union. However, Yerevan promptly denied these reports.
By the way, the timing of the visa-free regime remains uncertain. Pashinyan previously called the year 2029 a benchmark, but on September 7, the European Commission said it was too early to talk about a specific date.
Moscow believes that such promises do not give Yerevan any real guarantees. The European Commission has not actually confirmed the dates of visa liberalization mentioned by the Armenian Prime Minister, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told "Izvestia".
— This underlines the ephemerality of the promises of a "wonderful European future" and the utilitarianism of Brussels' perception of the Armenian state. In their "wards," Europeans see only a source of resources, labor, and a completely deindustrialized sales market for their own goods and services, including security, for which they have to pay dearly in every sense, he said.
In the context of Armenia's rapprochement with the EU, the issue of the Russian military base in Gyumri is increasingly being discussed in Armenia. On September 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to withdraw its military if Yerevan asked for it. The next day, Pashinyan said that Armenia would not object if Moscow itself made such a decision. Nevertheless, Yerevan has not officially asked Moscow for anything.
— We have not received any requests from the Armenian side regarding the withdrawal of the Russian military base stationed in Gyumri. We continue to believe that it is an important element of the security architecture of Armenia and the South Caucasus," Galuzin stressed.
The talks about the base, which have intensified significantly recently, indicate that the Armenian leadership is ready to abandon not only trade with Russia, but also Moscow's security assistance for the sake of rapprochement with the EU. At the same time, the new trade regime with Brussels does not require Yerevan to withdraw from the EAEU. But the more Armenia aligns its rules with the European Union, the more difficult it will be for it to stay inside two different economic communities at the same time.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
