Von der Leyen plans Armenia visit to show support for pro-EU government

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to travel to Armenia next week, according to three people familiar with the plans.

The EU delegation, which will also include Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, will visit Armenia in a high-profile show of support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after his pro-European party secured a decisive victory in the country's June parliamentary election.

The July 1 visit, the plans for which have not yet been finalized, comes as Pashinyan seeks to cement Armenia's shift away from Moscow and deepen ties with the European Union following a vote widely viewed as a referendum on the country's geopolitical future.

“We have seen the country under intense and consistent pressure from Russia; a visit would send a strong signal of support, following on from the concrete support already delivered,” said one EU official working on the prospective trip, granted anonymity to speak frankly, as were the other people with knowledge of the planned trip.

They added it would send the message that “Europe is here for you.”