EU welcomes progress between Baku and Yerevan in the year since the Washington agreements

The European Union considers the lifting of trade and transit restrictions, as well as the expansion of contacts between the societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia, important results of the year that has passed since the initialing of the draft peace agreement between the two countries on August 8, 2025, in Washington.

Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the EU's European External Action Service (EEAS), said this to the European bureau of Report.

"The initialing of the draft peace agreement and the signing of the joint declaration on the peace process on August 8, 2025, were historic steps toward the full normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia," the head of the EEAS press service said.

According to Hipper, since then the parties have achieved important progress that has brought benefits to both countries. The EU noted, in particular, the lifting of trade and transit restrictions, the release of detainees, as well as the expansion of contacts between representatives of the two countries within the framework of the Peace Bridge initiative.

At the same time, Brussels considers it necessary to continue implementing the agreements reached and to ensure the signing and ratification of the peace treaty.

The EU also supports the continuation of practical steps to normalize relations, such as expanding cooperation in the areas of connectivity, trade, and energy, Hipper noted.

She added that no less important is the continuation of the process of border delimitation and demarcation, the resolution of humanitarian issues, and work on reconciliation, including at the level of societies.

"The EU is ready to provide additional support and expertise in all these areas," the European Union representative said.

The initialing of the text of the agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan took place on August 8, 2025, at a summit in Washington with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.