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COMMISSIONER SEES STRONG CASE FOR ARMENIA'S ACTIVE ROLE IN EASTERN PARTNERSHIP
ENPI Info Centre
July 11 2013
11-07-2013
The EU and Armenia are at a significant moment in their relations,
developing a partnership which is both wider and deeper than it has
been up to now, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood
Policy Štefan Fule has told an audience of students, civil society,
media and think tanks in Yerevan.
He said the two sides were very close to finalising the Association
Agreement, which would bring "concrete benefits and new opportunities
to all citizens," stressing that "human rights, democracy and
fundamental freedoms will be so-called 'essential elements' of our
new Agreement, in other words the absolute core that both sides must
respect and promote."
The Commissioner said the agreement should "open a new chapter not
only in European Union-Armenia relations but also in Armenia's own
development," with the EU standing ready not only to provide financial
support of its own, but to encourage other international donors to
support reform projects.
In the broader contexts, Fule said, EU-Armenia relations are developed
through the Eastern Partnership, in which the political aspects of the
dialogue are complemented with practical sectoral cooperation. The
Commissioner cited in particular an informal dialogue of Eastern
Partnership ministers of education due to be held in Armenia in
September, which he was planning to attend alongside the EU's Education
Commissioner Androula Vassiliou.
The EU and its partners will be in a better position to face the
challenges and opportunities if they join forces within the Eastern
Partnership, Fule emphasized, adding that he saw "a strong case for
participation in a multilateral format of this sort for a country
with no access to sea, whose borders with two of its neighbours are
currently closed."
The Commissioner used the opportunity to dispel the "myth that
the Eastern Partnership is based on a one-size-fits-all-approach
leading to uniform relationships in which the individuality of each
of the partners gets lost." Exactly the opposite is true, he insisted:
"While we do use a common tool box, including mobility, approximation
to European Union standards and values, we work with partners to
find tailor-made solutions. Differentiation is a key concept in the
Eastern Partnership, and Armenia is no exception."
In Yerevan, the Commissioner discussed with government,
parliamentarians and civil society ways of addressing some of the
main priorities in EU-Armenia relations, including:
· democracy;
· human rights;
· fundamental freedoms;
· equality;
· intensifying the fight against corruption;
· reforming governance and strengthening institutions.
Turning to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Fule urged Armenia to step up
efforts with Azerbaijan to reach an agreement on the Madrid Principles,
pledging the EU's assistance.
The EU "has a clear goal of forging deeper relations with all
Armenians, across the political spectrum, from business, from civil
society and among the population. In other words: an inclusive
partnership," the Commisisoner concluded. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=33874&id_type=1&lang_id=450
From: A. Papazian
ENPI Info Centre
July 11 2013
11-07-2013
The EU and Armenia are at a significant moment in their relations,
developing a partnership which is both wider and deeper than it has
been up to now, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood
Policy Štefan Fule has told an audience of students, civil society,
media and think tanks in Yerevan.
He said the two sides were very close to finalising the Association
Agreement, which would bring "concrete benefits and new opportunities
to all citizens," stressing that "human rights, democracy and
fundamental freedoms will be so-called 'essential elements' of our
new Agreement, in other words the absolute core that both sides must
respect and promote."
The Commissioner said the agreement should "open a new chapter not
only in European Union-Armenia relations but also in Armenia's own
development," with the EU standing ready not only to provide financial
support of its own, but to encourage other international donors to
support reform projects.
In the broader contexts, Fule said, EU-Armenia relations are developed
through the Eastern Partnership, in which the political aspects of the
dialogue are complemented with practical sectoral cooperation. The
Commissioner cited in particular an informal dialogue of Eastern
Partnership ministers of education due to be held in Armenia in
September, which he was planning to attend alongside the EU's Education
Commissioner Androula Vassiliou.
The EU and its partners will be in a better position to face the
challenges and opportunities if they join forces within the Eastern
Partnership, Fule emphasized, adding that he saw "a strong case for
participation in a multilateral format of this sort for a country
with no access to sea, whose borders with two of its neighbours are
currently closed."
The Commissioner used the opportunity to dispel the "myth that
the Eastern Partnership is based on a one-size-fits-all-approach
leading to uniform relationships in which the individuality of each
of the partners gets lost." Exactly the opposite is true, he insisted:
"While we do use a common tool box, including mobility, approximation
to European Union standards and values, we work with partners to
find tailor-made solutions. Differentiation is a key concept in the
Eastern Partnership, and Armenia is no exception."
In Yerevan, the Commissioner discussed with government,
parliamentarians and civil society ways of addressing some of the
main priorities in EU-Armenia relations, including:
· democracy;
· human rights;
· fundamental freedoms;
· equality;
· intensifying the fight against corruption;
· reforming governance and strengthening institutions.
Turning to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Fule urged Armenia to step up
efforts with Azerbaijan to reach an agreement on the Madrid Principles,
pledging the EU's assistance.
The EU "has a clear goal of forging deeper relations with all
Armenians, across the political spectrum, from business, from civil
society and among the population. In other words: an inclusive
partnership," the Commisisoner concluded. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=33874&id_type=1&lang_id=450
From: A. Papazian