The European Union will provide up to 200 million euros in grant funding for the development of transport, energy, and digital connections in the South Caucasus, announced European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Baku:
Von der Leyen, along with Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to Reuters.
According to the Commission President, the initiative aims to support peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan by strengthening regional connectivity and providing targeted assistance to local communities:
“Our package ‘Peace through Connectivity’ will help build a peaceful and prosperous future for the South Caucasus. Together, we can turn peace on paper into peace in practice,” said von der Leyen:
The European Commission also announced that an additional 20 million euros will be allocated to support local communities in Armenia and Azerbaijan, including investments in healthcare, demining, skills development, and local businesses:
