Alexey Overchuk has stated that the European Union’s planned €50 million financial assistance package for Armenia will not resolve any significant economic issues.

“It solves absolutely nothing. These are not the kinds of volumes we are talking about. Our trade turnover with Armenia is on a completely different scale, and I would not even want to comment further,” Overchuk said, according to Interfax.

Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union was preparing a financial assistance package of about €50 million for Armenia amid what she described as economic pressure from Russia.

According to Overchuk, restrictions imposed on the import of certain Armenian goods into Russia are part of routine administrative and regulatory processes.

He said there is no connection between discussions concerning Armenia’s future membership prospects in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the restrictions on Armenian imports, describing the timing as coincidental.

“The measures being applied are carried out within the framework of routine work and legal procedures. It has simply happened to coincide at this moment,” Overchuk said.

Asked whether import restrictions introduced on phytosanitary grounds could be viewed as a stress test for Armenia, the deputy prime minister replied: “I would not like to regard it as a stress test, but to some extent it is also a stress test. In reality, however, routine work is being carried out, and the phytosanitary component is being checked. We are now entering a new harvest season, and naturally attention to these matters is greater.”

According to previous announcements by Rosselkhoznadzor, imports of flowers from Armenia were banned starting May 22. Temporary restrictions were introduced on May 30 on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs and strawberries; on June 2 on stone fruits including cherries, sweet cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines and fresh grapes; and on June 3 on pome fruits, eggplants, potatoes and dried fruits.

In addition, Rosselkhoznadzor stated that from June 2 Armenia must suspend certification of live fish and fish products intended for export to Russia.