EU Advisory Group releases annual report
The EU Advisory Group (EU AG) to Armenia held its ninth Advisory Board Meeting on 25 April 2012 in Yerevan. At the Meeting - co-chaired by Ambassador Traian Hristea, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, and Mr. Artur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of National Security Council - the Group presented its Annual Report for 2011 and Quarterly Report for January-March 2012.
The Board expressed satisfaction with the release of the EUAG Annual Report, an evidence of the solid policy advice the delivered throughout 2011 in support of the Government's reform agenda. The Report highlighted the fundamental role of the EU AG, which helped pave the way for the launch of negotiations between the EU and Armenia on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The Report also stressed the Group's efforts providing advice on EU integration of political parties and in steadily improving the involvement of civil society in the political decision making process. The Annual Report is available at www.euadvisorygroup.eu in English and Armenian.
The Board approved the EU AG Quarterly Report for January-March 2012 and noted the strategic advice the Group had provided to political parties that resulted in three parties being granted observer member status in the European People's Party. The beneficiary highly appreciated the advice to host the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan in February 2012, as well as the encouragement to participate in a follow-up meeting in Azerbaijan in April - these meetings were viewed as clear signs of positive political developments.
In addition, the EU AG provided substantial policy advice to the Ministry of Economy on topics including technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, trade facilitation and customs administration since this was helping the Ministry to prepare for and proceed with the DCFTA negotiations. Support to the implementation of asylum and migration policies and the evaluation of the Government's communication campaign on reform activities "I know" also received very positive feedback.
High-ranking officials from the President's Office, the Government, and the National Assembly, Embassies of EU Member States and international organisations, including UNDP attended the meeting The EU Advisory Group was represented by the Team Leader, Mr. Antti Hartikainen and the EU Advisors.
