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ARMENIA NEEDS TO RECRUIT SIX LONG-TERM EU ADVISORS; NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY
YEREVAN, July 12. / ARKA /. Armenia needs to recruit six long-term
advisors from EU to work on reforms in a number of priority areas,
Arthur Baghdasarian, the Secretary of National Security Council of
Armenia, who co-chaired the EU Advisory Group 13th Board meeting in
Yerevan, said today.
"Today we have about a dozen European experts working in our country.
I respect their important work, but it is in our interest to make it
more targeted, and not to disperse resources," he said.
In turn, deputy economy minister Garegin Melkonian identified six
priority areas which need to be reformed in the first place. According
to him, they are trade, phytosanitary control, tax and customs policy,
civic society development and human rights, institutional development,
in particular of standardization and certification institutions as
well as the legal sphere.
The EU Advisory Group has been working in Armenia since April 1,
2011 providing advice on the implementation of the Action Plan for
the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as on strengthening of
democratic and economic structures.
The EU Advisory Group presented today its semi-annual report
(January-June 2013), along with a needs assessment report and a work
plan for the remainder of the year.
The Board reviewed the Advisory Group's different activities from
January to June and noted progress on national reforms. The Advisory
Group reported on the achievements and results attained during the
first half of 2013.
Support to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)
negotiations continued. This involved several rounds of discussions
between the European Union and Armenia. As a result, the conclusion of
the Chapter on Technical Barriers to Trade now appears imminent. The
Semi-annual Report highlights, among other topics, the Advisory
Group's support in drafting market surveillance legislation and its
contribution towards the introduction of criminal liability for legal
entities in the country's new Criminal Code.
The Board noted the Group's consistent policy advice in the areas of
Food Safety legislation, Human Rights Protection, and the national
Law on Anti-discrimination. The Board received an update on the Needs
Assessment Report for 2013, which spells out the most critical issues
and response option before the Government and partner agencies. The
Board also endorsed the Advisory Group's Work plan for the next
six months. High-ranking officials from the President's Office, the
Government and the National Assembly, Embassies of EU Member States
and international organizations, including UNDP, attended the meeting.
-0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_needs_to_recruit_six_long_term_eu_advisors _national_security_council_secretary/#sthash.U5Z0MCax.dpuf
YEREVAN, July 12. / ARKA /. Armenia needs to recruit six long-term
advisors from EU to work on reforms in a number of priority areas,
Arthur Baghdasarian, the Secretary of National Security Council of
Armenia, who co-chaired the EU Advisory Group 13th Board meeting in
Yerevan, said today.
"Today we have about a dozen European experts working in our country.
I respect their important work, but it is in our interest to make it
more targeted, and not to disperse resources," he said.
In turn, deputy economy minister Garegin Melkonian identified six
priority areas which need to be reformed in the first place. According
to him, they are trade, phytosanitary control, tax and customs policy,
civic society development and human rights, institutional development,
in particular of standardization and certification institutions as
well as the legal sphere.
The EU Advisory Group has been working in Armenia since April 1,
2011 providing advice on the implementation of the Action Plan for
the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as on strengthening of
democratic and economic structures.
The EU Advisory Group presented today its semi-annual report
(January-June 2013), along with a needs assessment report and a work
plan for the remainder of the year.
The Board reviewed the Advisory Group's different activities from
January to June and noted progress on national reforms. The Advisory
Group reported on the achievements and results attained during the
first half of 2013.
Support to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)
negotiations continued. This involved several rounds of discussions
between the European Union and Armenia. As a result, the conclusion of
the Chapter on Technical Barriers to Trade now appears imminent. The
Semi-annual Report highlights, among other topics, the Advisory
Group's support in drafting market surveillance legislation and its
contribution towards the introduction of criminal liability for legal
entities in the country's new Criminal Code.
The Board noted the Group's consistent policy advice in the areas of
Food Safety legislation, Human Rights Protection, and the national
Law on Anti-discrimination. The Board received an update on the Needs
Assessment Report for 2013, which spells out the most critical issues
and response option before the Government and partner agencies. The
Board also endorsed the Advisory Group's Work plan for the next
six months. High-ranking officials from the President's Office, the
Government and the National Assembly, Embassies of EU Member States
and international organizations, including UNDP, attended the meeting.
-0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_needs_to_recruit_six_long_term_eu_advisors _national_security_council_secretary/#sthash.U5Z0MCax.dpuf