The European Union will not extend its observation mission’s mandate in Armenia.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy yesterday announced that the mission will be withdrawn when its mandate ends on December 19.

“We agreed to withdraw the Mission, because it has reached [its] end, and deploy a team to explore possible further European Union engagement, Borrell said during a press briefing. 

“Nevertheless, to maintain our credibility as a facilitator of the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a team will be deployed to Armenia to plan a possible civilian mission to be launched, in case of agreement, for next year. But this EU Monitoring Capacity to Armenia will reach an end on the 19th of this month,” Borell said. 

The EU, in October, dispatched a forty-member civilian border monitoring mission to Armenia for a maximum period of two months.

French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, during a Q&A debate last week in the French National Assembly, said the EU observation mission’s mandate in Armenia needs to be extended.

"The mission should remain as long as necessary. This is our belief and the desire of Armenians," Colonna said.