EU fully supports modernisation agenda in Armenia
The EU fully supports the reform and modernisation agenda in Armenia and remains committed to deepeningits engagement with the country in the framework of the Eastern Partnership, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso said after their respective meetings with Armenia's President SerzhSargsyan in Brussels yesterday.
Armenia's reform agenda provides the basis for thedeepening and broadening of the EU-Armenia relationship, said Herman Van Rompuy, adding:"It also shows the country's readiness to engage with the EU in an "EU-Armenian Partnership for reform."
President Barroso said EU-Armenia relations have been making good progress lately, citing the launch of talks on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and the opening of the DCFTA negotiations, "which marks a turning point in our trading and economic relationship, providing new opportunities for our citizens and businessestook stock of the latest developments in EU-Armenia relations."
The Commission President urged Armenia "to advance in its trade and trade-related reforms and work towards reaching a stable, transparent and predictable economic environment," which would be essential to attracting foreign investment and also to stimulate growth and job creation.
The relationship between the EU and Armenia is not only about the economy, trade or mobility, but it is also about sharing the universal values, namely democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law, which are at the core of the future Association Agreement, Barroso stressed.
The EU expects Armenia to pursue reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, Barroso said, adding the next parliamentary and presidential elections will be "an important benchmark in Armenia reform's path."
Turning to the unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the President of the ECsaid the EU stood ready, in full complementarity with the Minsk Group, "to provide enhanced support for confidence building measures if the parties so wish."
