Паст инфо

‘The annual budget aid from the EU to Armenia is aimed at supporting Armenia - EU activities program. In the scope of the National Indicative Program 2011-2013 the support from the EU reached 157 million EUR including 32 million EUR for strengthening the capacity building of state institutions’ informed the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan at the joint session of the NA on November 5, adding that the EU having evaluated the efforts put in the reform process in Armenia, decided to provide 15 million EUR more.

‘We give high importance to continuous deepening of the relations with the EU. Lately Armenia - EU cooperation circle has notably enlarged. In present the relations with the EU are very dynamic, high-level political dialogue and visits have notably activated’ said the Minister.

According to his estimations, there is a progress in the negotiations regarding the Armenia - EU Association Agreement in force since July 2010. ‘In present 28 out of 29 chapters regarding future sectoral cooperation were negotiated and temporarily closed’ noted the Minister.

E. Nalbandyan also stated that the negotiations concerning deep and comprehensive free trade agreement started in June of the current year and there is certain progress made in the two phases. The negotiations over visa facilitation and readmission signed on October 18 are finished. According to the preliminary agreement they will be signed in near future during Armenia - EU Cooperation Council that will take place in Brussels.

According to the visa facilitation agreement a facilitated entrance of different categories of the RA citizens to the EU is expected, i.e. people of science, students, journalists, people of art and sport, citizens departing with invitations of the Diaspora institutions functioning in the EU countries, members of official delegations and others.

The Minister said that after this agreement becomes operative a new phase of negotiations will be launched with the EU, i.e. removing visa regime with the EU.