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FTA TALKS OPEN WITH YEREVAN
Europolitics.info
http://www.europolitics.info/external-policies/fta-talks-open-with-yerevan-art326607-46.html
Feb 20 2012
The European Commission decided, on 20 February, to open negotiations
with Armenia on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA)
in order to boost economic growth and investment. The green light for
the launch of said negotiations was given by the Council's Trade Policy
Committee, on 17 February. "The opening of free trade negotiations
marks a turning point in our trade relations with Armenia," noted
Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. "We are entering a new phase that
will bring our economic ties to a new level of depth and ambition," he
added. The decision comes in recognition of Yerevan's recent reforms in
certain strategic areas. The opening of the talks was conditional upon
Armenia fulfilling a number of "key recommendations" set out by the
Commission. "Armenia made substantial reforms notably in the fields
of technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and
the protection of intellectual property," a Commission statement said.
The DCFTA will be part of an association agreement the EU has been
negotiating with the country since July 2010, in the framework of
the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy. The
new deal is aimed at integrating Armenia into the EU's single market,
thus offering enhanced trade opportunities to both sides, especially
since the EU is Armenia's first trading partner, with bilateral
trade in goods worth ~@960 million in 2010. "This is a further sign
of the strengthening of our political and economic ties," commented
Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. "Launching DCFTA negotiations
is one more step towards closer economic integration, which is one
of the cornerstones of our relations with countries of the Eastern
Partnership," he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Europolitics.info
http://www.europolitics.info/external-policies/fta-talks-open-with-yerevan-art326607-46.html
Feb 20 2012
The European Commission decided, on 20 February, to open negotiations
with Armenia on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA)
in order to boost economic growth and investment. The green light for
the launch of said negotiations was given by the Council's Trade Policy
Committee, on 17 February. "The opening of free trade negotiations
marks a turning point in our trade relations with Armenia," noted
Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. "We are entering a new phase that
will bring our economic ties to a new level of depth and ambition," he
added. The decision comes in recognition of Yerevan's recent reforms in
certain strategic areas. The opening of the talks was conditional upon
Armenia fulfilling a number of "key recommendations" set out by the
Commission. "Armenia made substantial reforms notably in the fields
of technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and
the protection of intellectual property," a Commission statement said.
The DCFTA will be part of an association agreement the EU has been
negotiating with the country since July 2010, in the framework of
the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy. The
new deal is aimed at integrating Armenia into the EU's single market,
thus offering enhanced trade opportunities to both sides, especially
since the EU is Armenia's first trading partner, with bilateral
trade in goods worth ~@960 million in 2010. "This is a further sign
of the strengthening of our political and economic ties," commented
Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. "Launching DCFTA negotiations
is one more step towards closer economic integration, which is one
of the cornerstones of our relations with countries of the Eastern
Partnership," he concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress