ArmInfo. On October 23, during its regular meeting, the government approved Armenia's subscription instrument for increasing the authorized capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
As stated in the explanatory note to the document, the EBRD was established in 1991. The Bank's shareholders include 77 countries, as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. Since its inception, the Bank has invested in over 7,500 projects in approximately 40 countries, totaling ?210 billion. The Bank's investments aim to facilitate the transition to open market economies and promote the development of private and entrepreneurial initiatives in beneficiary countries.
The Republic of Armenia joined the EBRD on April 28, 1992. Since then, the Bank has participated in financing 231 projects in Armenia, totaling EUR 2,491 million, of which EUR 605 million is for ongoing projects. The private sector investments account for 51% of the Bank's portfolio, with operating assets amounting to EUR 258 million and 60 active transactions. The Bank's main areas of cooperation include the financial sector, energy, and other infrastructure projects.
Armenia is also a donor to the EBRD (in 2015, Armenia signed a EUR 1 million investment agreement with the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) Fund). It is noted that, in accordance with Resolution No. 265 "On the Increase of the Authorized Capital and its Contributions," adopted by the Bank's Board of Governors, the process of increasing the EBRD's authorized capital by EUR 4 billion is currently underway. The capital increase ensures the Bank's continued support for beneficiary economies in overcoming the challenges of the transition period, and will also help the Bank address broader geopolitical tensions and the long-term impacts of climate change. The Republic of Armenia's current stake in the Bank's authorized capital is 0.05%, and its paid-in capital is EUR 14.9 million.
The Republic of Armenia has been invited to subscribe to an additional 201 shares (with a total value of EUR 2,010,000), which will proportionally increase or at least maintain the Republic of Armenia's voting power (in the event of non-subscription to the capital increase, if all other members of the Bank subscribe, the Republic of Armenia's voting power will decrease to 0.04%).
It is also worth noting that during the Bank's Annual Meeting and Business Forum in London on May 13- 15 2025, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia expressed the country's willingness to participate in the process of increasing the Bank's authorized capital. Given the bank's significant role as a key partner in Armenia's development, the recent strengthening of collaboration following the EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Yerevan on May 14-16 2024, which led to a record level of Bank investment in Armenia, the new share subscription is seen as an important step to ensure continuity in the restoration of effective collaboration between Armenia and the Bank.
