Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Barroso Takes Stock Of Eu-Armenia Relations In Yerevan

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Barroso Takes Stock Of Eu-Armenia Relations In Yerevan

    BARROSO TAKES STOCK OF EU-ARMENIA RELATIONS IN YEREVAN

    ENPI
    Dec 3 2012
    Eu

    The EU and Armenia are building a strong relationship based on
    political association, economic integration and deeper people-to-people
    contacts, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has
    said following his meeting in Yerevan with President Serzh Sargsyan
    of Armenia.

    "Democratic institutions, independence of the judiciary, political
    pluralism, media freedom and protection of fundamental rights and
    freedoms are the lifeblood of our partnership," Barroso stressed,
    adding this had been his key message in the meetings with Armenia's
    political leaders, parliamentarians and civil society.

    The European Commission President hailed progress in the negotiations
    on the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free
    Trade Area), due to be concluded in time of the Eastern Partnership
    Summit in Vilnius in November 2013.

    Barroso also cited headway in the Mobility dialogue, with the expected
    signature of the Visa Facilitation Agreement on 17 December, followed,
    at a later date, by the signature of the Readmission Agreement.

    He also commended Armenia for the good conduct of the Parliamentary
    elections in May 2012, saying he was reassured by the President's
    personal commitment to address the shortcomings raised by the
    OSCE/ODIHR mission.

    The EU fully recognizes Armenia's commitment to reforms and the
    efforts being made, said Barroso, adding the EU was determined to
    support Armenia, in particular by stepping up its assistance to the
    country this year with an additional ~@15 million for an existing
    project on the reform of the Judiciary and for an on-going operation
    on Vocational and Education Training.

    President Barroso stressed the EU's commitment to peace and
    regional stability, in particular through efforts to resolve the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework of the Minsk Group,
    and reiterated the EU's readiness "to provide enhanced support for
    confidence building measures if the parties so wish."

    In Yerevan, President Barroso said the EU attached great importance to
    Armenia as a country and to the Eastern neighbourhood as a whole. He
    told an audience at the National Manuscript Museum in Yerevan that the
    EU and Armenia were discussing the possibility of replacing the ENP
    Action Plan with an 'Association Agenda' - "a more focused tool which
    will prepare the road for the implementation of our new Agreement."

    In his speech, President Barroso focused on the role of civil society
    in the reform process. He said the EU had developed a new instrument -
    the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility - "to provide additional grant
    support and encourage concrete actions from civil society." He also
    voiced hope that the EU's support to NGOs will continue through the
    European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and through thematic
    programmes for non-state actors, as well as other EU instruments.

    "But beyond the instruments what is important to note here is the
    political will - the political commitment to work together with your
    country. We believe that Armenia is a European country, that you
    belong to the European family of nations and that we have everything
    to gain from working even closer," Barroso said.

    The President hailed the Armenian government's policy of getting "as
    close to the European Union as the European Union will let us," adding:
    "In terms of sharing our values, of being a part of our internal
    market we want you to be very close indeed." (EU Neighbourhood Info)

    http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=31349&id_type=1&lang_id=450

Working...
X