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ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND MOLDOVA TO GET ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM EU
20:11, 20 March, 2013
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: The European Commission has presented
its annual European Neighborhood Package. The package will be a key
factor in determining how much EU funds that will be granted to the
individual member states later this year. This year's report shows
that Georgia, Moldova, and to a certain extent Armenia have reformed
the most in the recent year and will benefit from additional funds
from Brussels, reports Armenpress referring to Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty. European Neighborhood Package details political and
economic development in its six eastern neighbors, as well as countries
in the southern Mediterranean.
The commission has urged the Armenian government to step up its work
to implement and enforce human rights legislation. The report also
underlined the need to address shortcomings in Armenia's recent
presidential elections. It stated that freedoms of assembly and
expression were generally respected but media independence remained
insufficient.
The report also took note of Yerevan's efforts to reform its judiciary
and fight corruption. On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU urged
Armenia to intensify efforts with Azerbaijan to reach an agreement
and ensure "unimpeded access" for EU representatives to the area and
surrounding regions.
Stefan Fuele, the EU commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood
policy, said in Brussels that the EU needs to increase efforts to
help the countries in the report meet goals to become members of the
European Union.
"The Eastern Partnership countries need our continued support to
deliver on their commitments, and it is my conviction that they
deserve an ambitious future," Fuele said.
Despite the criticism, the EU still said that Armenia qualifies for its
"more for more" principle in which extra reforms lead to additional
EU funds for the upcoming year.
20:11, 20 March, 2013
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: The European Commission has presented
its annual European Neighborhood Package. The package will be a key
factor in determining how much EU funds that will be granted to the
individual member states later this year. This year's report shows
that Georgia, Moldova, and to a certain extent Armenia have reformed
the most in the recent year and will benefit from additional funds
from Brussels, reports Armenpress referring to Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty. European Neighborhood Package details political and
economic development in its six eastern neighbors, as well as countries
in the southern Mediterranean.
The commission has urged the Armenian government to step up its work
to implement and enforce human rights legislation. The report also
underlined the need to address shortcomings in Armenia's recent
presidential elections. It stated that freedoms of assembly and
expression were generally respected but media independence remained
insufficient.
The report also took note of Yerevan's efforts to reform its judiciary
and fight corruption. On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU urged
Armenia to intensify efforts with Azerbaijan to reach an agreement
and ensure "unimpeded access" for EU representatives to the area and
surrounding regions.
Stefan Fuele, the EU commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood
policy, said in Brussels that the EU needs to increase efforts to
help the countries in the report meet goals to become members of the
European Union.
"The Eastern Partnership countries need our continued support to
deliver on their commitments, and it is my conviction that they
deserve an ambitious future," Fuele said.
Despite the criticism, the EU still said that Armenia qualifies for its
"more for more" principle in which extra reforms lead to additional
EU funds for the upcoming year.