EU ambassadors greenlight civilian mission to Armenia on hybrid threats

EU member state ambassadors in Brussels have approved a decision to deploy a new civilian mission to Armenia, paving the way for final endorsement expected at next week’s EU foreign ministers’ meeting, RFE/RL reported, citing internal EU documents regarding the proposal by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the mission’s mandate, structure, and duration.

Under the document, the mission is intended to strengthen Armenia’s resilience to hybrid threats by providing strategic and practical advice and support to ministries and security agencies, according to RFE/RL. 

The advisory work will focus on policy development, detection and response to foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberattacks, as well as illicit financial flows.

The mission will also assess what is needed to develop Armenia’s security sector capabilities, enabling the country to more effectively detect and respond to hybrid threats in line with EU methodologies and standards.

Earlier this year, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas reaffirmed that the EU will send a Hybrid Rapid Response Team to Armenia to help counter threats ahead of the country’s June 7 elections.