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sept 28 2012
New financing agreements for reforms in Armenia
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Ĺtefan
Füle, and Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, signed two new
financing agreements between the European Union and Armenia in Yerevan
on Thursday.
Totalling ?¬43 million, the two agreements focus on institution
building and will support the negotiations and implementation of the
future EU-Armenia bilateral agreements: the Association Agreement and
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa
Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.
"I believe we are preparing the ground for an Armenia which is a state
with more citizen-friendly institutions, an attractive investment
destination and better conditions for those businesses which want to
take advantage of new market opportunities,' Commissioner Füle said
after signing the documents.
EU bilateral assistance to Armenia under the European Neighbourhood
Partnership Instrument is ?¬157 million for 2011-2013, double the
amount for the previous period. On top of that, an additional ?¬ 15
million have recently been allocated under the More for More
principle. `The more reforms Armenia carries out the more the EU will
be able to support it. Already today, EU support for Armenia has
reached unprecedented levels" Commissioner Füle stated referring to
the financial allocation so far.
Through the financing agreements signed in Yerevan on Thursday, we
will support Armenia's Sustainable Development Programme, focusing on
several sector specific strategies such as Customs Administration,
Quality infrastructure, Food Safety and e-governance. The expected
results should have a direct bearing on the key milestones set for the
bilateral co-operation under the Eastern Partnership:
- Introduction of biometric passports will help Armenia to meet a key
condition of visa liberalization;
- improved data protection will open the way to deepened co-operation
in justice, freedom and security;
- improvements in the legal framework for public procurement will help
Armenia along the road to new opportunities for tendering for public
contracts on European Union markets.
Background:
During the period 2011 ` 2013, the EU's priority areas of cooperation
with Armenia focus on improving democratic structures and good
governance and facilitating trade, investment and socio-economic
reform.
The basis for the Financing Agreements signed today is the ENPI Annual
Action Programme 2011, worth ?¬43.1 million and composed of two
actions:
1. "Framework Programme in support of the EU-Armenia agreement" ` ?¬19.1 million
A central part of the EU support package channelled through the
Eastern Partnership Comprehensive Institution Building (CIB)
initiative.
The Comprehensive Institutional Building supports partner countries in
reforming those institutions in their country which are essential to
negotiate and implement bilateral relations with the EU: Association
Agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement
(DCFTA), and Visa Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.
In Armenia, this support will address the Institutional Reform Plans
prepared by the government on three key reform challenges: (1)
preparing for the negotiations of the Association Agreement between
the EU and Armenia, (2) advancing reforms in justice, liberty and
security and (3) preparing for the negotiations of the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area.
1. "Support to the Government of Armenia for the implementation of the
ENP Action Plan and the preparation for the future Association
Agreement" - ?¬24 million
The second major component of the EU assistance to Armenia, channelled
via budget support programme, will focus on the implementation of the
ENP Action Plan and reforms related to Public Finance Management and
public sector transparency and performance, including e-governance. It
will also assist further alignment of the Armenian trade regulations
to the EU norms and standards.
For more info:
Download the Annual Action Programme 2012 for Armenia:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/ap/aap/2012_en.htm
Delegation of the European Union to Armenia:
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/armenia/index_en.htm
External relations EU-Armenia:
http://eeas.europa.eu/armenia/index_en.htm
Eastern Partnership:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/easternpartnership
Website of the Commissioner Stefan Füle:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/fule/index_en.htm
28 September 2012
http://www.investineu.com/content/new-financing-agreements-reforms-armenia-12c3
sept 28 2012
New financing agreements for reforms in Armenia
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Ĺtefan
Füle, and Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, signed two new
financing agreements between the European Union and Armenia in Yerevan
on Thursday.
Totalling ?¬43 million, the two agreements focus on institution
building and will support the negotiations and implementation of the
future EU-Armenia bilateral agreements: the Association Agreement and
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa
Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.
"I believe we are preparing the ground for an Armenia which is a state
with more citizen-friendly institutions, an attractive investment
destination and better conditions for those businesses which want to
take advantage of new market opportunities,' Commissioner Füle said
after signing the documents.
EU bilateral assistance to Armenia under the European Neighbourhood
Partnership Instrument is ?¬157 million for 2011-2013, double the
amount for the previous period. On top of that, an additional ?¬ 15
million have recently been allocated under the More for More
principle. `The more reforms Armenia carries out the more the EU will
be able to support it. Already today, EU support for Armenia has
reached unprecedented levels" Commissioner Füle stated referring to
the financial allocation so far.
Through the financing agreements signed in Yerevan on Thursday, we
will support Armenia's Sustainable Development Programme, focusing on
several sector specific strategies such as Customs Administration,
Quality infrastructure, Food Safety and e-governance. The expected
results should have a direct bearing on the key milestones set for the
bilateral co-operation under the Eastern Partnership:
- Introduction of biometric passports will help Armenia to meet a key
condition of visa liberalization;
- improved data protection will open the way to deepened co-operation
in justice, freedom and security;
- improvements in the legal framework for public procurement will help
Armenia along the road to new opportunities for tendering for public
contracts on European Union markets.
Background:
During the period 2011 ` 2013, the EU's priority areas of cooperation
with Armenia focus on improving democratic structures and good
governance and facilitating trade, investment and socio-economic
reform.
The basis for the Financing Agreements signed today is the ENPI Annual
Action Programme 2011, worth ?¬43.1 million and composed of two
actions:
1. "Framework Programme in support of the EU-Armenia agreement" ` ?¬19.1 million
A central part of the EU support package channelled through the
Eastern Partnership Comprehensive Institution Building (CIB)
initiative.
The Comprehensive Institutional Building supports partner countries in
reforming those institutions in their country which are essential to
negotiate and implement bilateral relations with the EU: Association
Agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement
(DCFTA), and Visa Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.
In Armenia, this support will address the Institutional Reform Plans
prepared by the government on three key reform challenges: (1)
preparing for the negotiations of the Association Agreement between
the EU and Armenia, (2) advancing reforms in justice, liberty and
security and (3) preparing for the negotiations of the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area.
1. "Support to the Government of Armenia for the implementation of the
ENP Action Plan and the preparation for the future Association
Agreement" - ?¬24 million
The second major component of the EU assistance to Armenia, channelled
via budget support programme, will focus on the implementation of the
ENP Action Plan and reforms related to Public Finance Management and
public sector transparency and performance, including e-governance. It
will also assist further alignment of the Armenian trade regulations
to the EU norms and standards.
For more info:
Download the Annual Action Programme 2012 for Armenia:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/ap/aap/2012_en.htm
Delegation of the European Union to Armenia:
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/armenia/index_en.htm
External relations EU-Armenia:
http://eeas.europa.eu/armenia/index_en.htm
Eastern Partnership:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/easternpartnership
Website of the Commissioner Stefan Füle:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/fule/index_en.htm
28 September 2012
http://www.investineu.com/content/new-financing-agreements-reforms-armenia-12c3