EU Peace Facility’s €20 mln assistance to Armenia symbolic, not decisive – Hungarian expert

Dr. Péter Pál Kránitz, a senior researcher at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, has described the European Union’s decision to provide Armenia with €20 million in assistance under the European Peace Facility as a symbolic gesture and a manifestation of goodwill.

At the same time, the expert stressed that the support does not constitute decisive military assistance for Armenia and is unlikely to significantly alter the balance of power in the South Caucasus.

The Hungarian expert expressed this view in an interview with Armenpress commenting on the decision adopted by the 27 EU member states at the European Council meeting on January 28, which approved the allocation of €20 million in assistance to Armenia from the European Peace Facility.

“First of all it should be noted that this is a non-lethal military assistance, that could range from personal protective equipment or fuel to training and first-aid kits. The European Peace Facility has a financial ceiling of 17 billion Euros, so the 20 million approved in January, and the 10 million pledged in 2024 together make up around a mere 0.1 percent of the whole budget. It is not a decisive military support for Armenia, nor will it significantly change regional status quo. At this point this support is a symbolic gesture and a show of goodwill,” he said.

According to him there is an important and significant circumstance that needs to be taken into account.

“However, considering the fact that there are only 11 countries that have received financial assistance from the fund in four regions—the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the South Caucasus—and only six states’ armed forces had received larger support than Armenia, it is easy to understand that the European Union and its member states consider the South Caucasus as a geostrategic region with paramount significance, and Armenia as a key and potentially strategic regional partner.”

“If this pattern persists, and European funds for Armenia keep on flowing and continue to double every one and a half years, Armenia could emerge as the recipient of the third largest share of the European Peace Facility in three years behind only to Ukraine and Moldova,” Kránitz said.

To the question what possible impact this decision could bring in terms of relations between Armenia and Hungary, as Budapest has lifted its veto, he said: “I’d like to remind you that Hungarians and Armenians coexist in Hungary since the 13th century, and interstate relations also date back 800 years: such historic and fruitful relationships are very much valued in both Budapest and Yerevan. This year Hungary and Armenia open their embassies in each others’ capitals and the two governments are working very hard to repair bilateral relations that have been damaged over the past years. The issue of the Peace Facility was one of the most significant inconvenience in our bilateral relations, so it was time to take a symbolic step towards each other and overcome this inconvenience. Both Hungary and Armenia, and their European and regional partners understand that the 20 million non-lethal assistance is but a symbolic gesture, it is a foundation to further cooperation in other fields of shared interests.’’

The expert noted “the position of the Hungarian government, that has been persistently consistent and clear over the past years remains unchanged’’.

“If the European Union wants to become a geopolitical actor in the South Caucasus, it must support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of regional countries, while it remains an honest broker and a neutral partner to all its regional partners. That is why Budapest was so careful to remain impartial in military assistance and insisted on a delicately balanced approach, to provide the same amount to Azerbaijan for de-mining efforts.’’

According to Kránitz if in the future, military assistance proposed by the EU to Armenia multiplies, the Hungarian government will raise its long-maintained position of impartiality.

 “Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the brink of a historic chance for peace, stability and prosperity, and it would be irresponsible by any regional actor to upset the delicate balance of power. Azerbaijan remains and will remain a strategic partner of Hungary, just as Türkiye or Georgia, and Hungary considers Armenia as a potential strategic partner too, but partnership needs solid foundations, and that foundation must be peaceful and stable if you want to make it solid and persistent,” he concluded.

Armenia previously received a one-time €10 million grant from the European Peace Facility in July 2024. The funds were allocated for the establishment of a modular field camp, including a medical aid clinic, as well as related services and capabilities.

In March 2025, Armenia submitted a second application for support from the European Peace Facility. However, during a subsequent meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, Hungary blocked the decision to allocate €20 million in assistance. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó later stressed  that Hungary was not opposed to Armenia receiving support, but argued that Azerbaijan should receive the same amount of assistance.

Szijjártó emphasized that the European Union should take into account the regional instability and the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to signing a peace agreement.

In December 2025, it became known that Hungary had lifted its veto on the provision of €20 million in support to Armenia under the European Peace Facility framework.