European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will have a phone conversation Wednesday to discuss the European Union’s (EU) assistance for Armenia amid economic restrictions imposed on the country by Russia, RFE/RL sources report from Brussels.

According to this information, the EU is preparing to provide financial assistance to Yerevan, although its exact amount has not yet been determined.

In addition to financial assistance, according to the same sources, Brussels intends to establish preferential conditions for Armenia in the trade sector. It is about the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM), within the framework of which some Armenian products can enter the European market without customs duties and quotas.

It is not yet known which Armenian products this preferential regime may apply to. It is clear, however, that this tool is usually used by the EU when it is necessary to assist partners in crisis situations to stabilize their economy and deepen their integration into the European market.

The Armenian government began negotiations with Brussels on this preferential regime years ago. “The discussions are not going easily,” economy minister Gevorg Papoyan had said in 2024.

Now, however, according to RFE/RL sources, the European Commission is ready to take a step in that direction. Moreover, these trade privileges are unilateral, and Armenia is not obliged to apply the same measures to European goods, which could contradict Yerevan's commitments within the framework of the EAEU.

If the European Union approves the use of ATM for Armenia, it will create an opportunity for Armenian manufacturers to enter the European market of around 450 million consumers, provided that the exported products meet European standards and quality.