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EU LAUNCHES TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMENIA
By Martin Banks
TheParliament.com
http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-launches-trade-negotiations-with-armenia/
Feb 20 2012
The EU has launched negotiations on a "deep and comprehensive" free
trade area with Armenia.
The move, announced on Monday, is designed to boost economic growth
and investment.
European trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said the negotiations will
cover matters that have become "crucial to a modern, transparent and
predictable trade and investment environment".
They will not only tackle market access conditions but also focus on
regulatory approximation, which, says the commissioner, will help to
achieve a closer economic integration of Armenia with the EU.
He said, "The opening of free trade negotiations mark a turning point
in our trade relations with Armenia. We are entering a new phase that
will bring our economic ties to a new level of depth and ambition.
"The EU is Armenia's first trading partner and a deep and comprehensive
free trade area will give Armenia a more favourable access to the
European single market thereby helping to boost economic growth in
the country."
His comments are echoed by European enlargement and neighbourhood
policy commissioner tefan Fule, who said, "This is a further sign
of the strengthening of our political and economic ties.
"Launching such negotiations is one more step towards closer economic
integration which is one of the cornerstones of our relations with
countries of Eastern partnership."
He said the free trade area will be part of the broader association
agreement which has been negotiated with Armenia since July 2010.
An EU source said, "The EU aims to enhance political stability and
security in this country by means of closer economic integration with
the EU.
"The free trade area is expected to diversify and strengthen Armenia's
export capacity and effectively open the way to access the EU market
of 500 million consumers.
"Armenia needs to continue its work towards reaching a stable,
transparent and predictable economic environment. This is essential
to attract foreign direct investment inflows, leading to job creation
and long-term growth.
"The most important gains for Armenia lie therefore behind the border,
in regulatory reforms, and as such will impact on its long-term
development perspective."
The EU has been negotiating an association agreement with Armenia
since July 2010.
The launch of the trade negotiations is conditional upon Armenia
fulfilling a set of "key recommendations" which cover reforms in what
the EU says are key regulatory areas related to trade, in order to
prepare Armenia for the upcoming negotiations.
By Martin Banks
TheParliament.com
http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-launches-trade-negotiations-with-armenia/
Feb 20 2012
The EU has launched negotiations on a "deep and comprehensive" free
trade area with Armenia.
The move, announced on Monday, is designed to boost economic growth
and investment.
European trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said the negotiations will
cover matters that have become "crucial to a modern, transparent and
predictable trade and investment environment".
They will not only tackle market access conditions but also focus on
regulatory approximation, which, says the commissioner, will help to
achieve a closer economic integration of Armenia with the EU.
He said, "The opening of free trade negotiations mark a turning point
in our trade relations with Armenia. We are entering a new phase that
will bring our economic ties to a new level of depth and ambition.
"The EU is Armenia's first trading partner and a deep and comprehensive
free trade area will give Armenia a more favourable access to the
European single market thereby helping to boost economic growth in
the country."
His comments are echoed by European enlargement and neighbourhood
policy commissioner tefan Fule, who said, "This is a further sign
of the strengthening of our political and economic ties.
"Launching such negotiations is one more step towards closer economic
integration which is one of the cornerstones of our relations with
countries of Eastern partnership."
He said the free trade area will be part of the broader association
agreement which has been negotiated with Armenia since July 2010.
An EU source said, "The EU aims to enhance political stability and
security in this country by means of closer economic integration with
the EU.
"The free trade area is expected to diversify and strengthen Armenia's
export capacity and effectively open the way to access the EU market
of 500 million consumers.
"Armenia needs to continue its work towards reaching a stable,
transparent and predictable economic environment. This is essential
to attract foreign direct investment inflows, leading to job creation
and long-term growth.
"The most important gains for Armenia lie therefore behind the border,
in regulatory reforms, and as such will impact on its long-term
development perspective."
The EU has been negotiating an association agreement with Armenia
since July 2010.
The launch of the trade negotiations is conditional upon Armenia
fulfilling a set of "key recommendations" which cover reforms in what
the EU says are key regulatory areas related to trade, in order to
prepare Armenia for the upcoming negotiations.