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Anti-corruption fight is one of the primary problems in Armenia, and institutional and legislative reforms are being carried out in this respect, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice Vigen Kocharyan said during the 7th session of EU-Armenia Justice, Freedom and Security Subcommittee.

According to him, it is planned to involve the best international experts in the development of further steps, as well as to encourage the active participation of civil society in anti-corruption programs.

As the Information Department of the Ministry of Justice reports, questions about the fight against corruption and terrorism, reforms in the judicial and legal structures, migration issues, border control, visa facilitation as well as mutual legal assistance and personal data security were discussed during the meeting.

At the request of European partners Vigen Kochatyan presented the reformation course of the judicial and legal structure. Deputy Minister underscored that the new Constitution prescribes efficient and working guarantees aimed at strengthening the independence of the judicial branch, which will ensure both the internal and the external independence of the courts, raise the possibilities for their unconstrained activity.

Co-Chairman of the Subcommittee, the head of the Eastern Partnership Division of the EU External Actions Service Dirk Schuebel and the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski assured that the European Union is ready to support the reforms underway in Armenia and deepen the bilateral relations

They highlighted that a good Strategy and Action Plan were designed aimed at reformation of the Judicial and Legal structures, while along with the registered progress they mentioned the existence of some open issues to be addressed.

The EU representatives assessed as positive Armenia’s efforts of transparent administration, development of the public sphere, in the areas of migration issues, fight against terrorism, border control, and expressed readiness to continue and deepen the cooperation.