Vigen Sargsyan: Armenia ready to advance cooperation with EU in parallel with entry into EEU
In parallel with its entry into the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Armenia is ready to advance cooperation with the European Union concerning reforms, free movement, good governance, democracy, human rights and economic cooperation, Chief of the Armenian Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan said today during a session of the Advisory Council of the EU Advisory Group.
Vigen Sargsyan said that Armenia-EU relations cover various fields, with regular meetings between institutional organizations of Armenia and the EU and Armenia’s active involvement in EU programs.
“The list of measures of the 2014-2015 Armenia-EU Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy was approved by the Armenian president’s order of April 23, 2014. Armenia is currently discussing issues to develop a new legal framework regulating its relations with the EU. Our aim is to keep the contents of previous discussions with the EU and ensure their compatibility with other integration formats,” the Chief of the Presidential Staff said.
“The EU-Armenia visa facilitation and readmission agreements took effect on January 1, 2014, creating ample opportunities for direct contacts of people. By a decision of the Armenian government, EU citizens have visited Armenia without a visa since January 10, 2013,” he said.
According to him, the EU Delegation to Armenia and other structures contributed greatly to the establishment of the Diplomatic School of Armenian Foreign Ministry.
“The EU Delegation cooperated actively with the National Security Council. Since 2009, Armenia and the EU have been conducting an active dialog on human rights. In recent years, large-scale institutional reforms have been implemented in almost all the directions in Armenia, and we are grateful to the EU Advisory Group for constant assistance,” Sargsyan said.