Brussels, 18/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 17 December, the EU and Armenia officially signed a visa facilitation agreement. The agreement - which still needs to obtain the approval of the European Parliament - will come into force at the same time as the readmission agreement, “on the first day of the second month following the date on which the two parties notify each other that the internal procedures have been completed”. It will facilitate Armenians obtaining a visa for the EU, but does not involve the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark. On 10 January 2013, Armenia will lift the requirement for Europeans to have a visa.
The EU and Armenia also signed a protocol to the cooperation and partnership agreement that links them - a protocol on Armenia's participation in European programmes. It will create a legal basis for Armenian institutions to benefit from closer contact with their European counterparts, including agencies.
During the 13th Cooperation Council that followed the signing of these agreements, Cypriot Minister for Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Marcoullis and European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle stressed the importance of implementing reforms, in parallel with the association agreement negotiations, including the deep and comprehensive free trade area. Armenian Minister for Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian said that his country wants to finalise the association agreement negotiations, including the free trade area, before the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius at the end of November 2013. The EU and Armenia agreed to start negotiations on an association agenda “soon”. This is intended to replace the European Neighbourhood Policy action plan and prepare for the future implementation of the association agreement.
The EU also encouraged Erevan to conduct the presidential elections in February 2013 in a “fair and transparent” way, taking account of the international recommendations following the legislative elections in May 2012. While underlining Armenia's progress in democratic governance and human rights, the EU called on the country to move forward on the outstanding issues, including independence of the judiciary and corruption. The Armenians and Europeans also discussed the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh (see EUROPE 10753). (CG/transl.fl)