Brussels, 19/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 March, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said he believed that 2015 was an “important and decisive” year for relations between the EU and Armenia, being “marked by a strong common commitment and efforts to strengthen these relations, if possible, and to negotiate a legal basis for future relations”.
In the autumn of 2013, Armenia decided not to sign its association agreement with the EU and to turn towards the Eurasian Union with Russia. However, in order to strengthen EU-Armenia relations nevertheless, Hahn said in January (see EUROPE 11234) that the negotiation framework on the association agreement had to be adapted due to Armenia's participation in the Eurasian Union but could keep the main elements.
During a press conference with Armenia's foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian, Hahn stated that the two parties had recently finished their joint assessment exercise and identified potential areas for their future cooperation. Once the negotiation mandates have been approved, the EU and Armenia will be able to launch the negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement. In January, Hahn said he hoped that the launch would take place at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on 21-22 May.
Hahn also hailed Erevan's progress on implementing the partnership for mobility. “The regular and satisfactory implementation of the visa facilitation and re-admission agreement is a pre-condition for considering the possibility of launching a dialogue on liberalisation of the visa regime”, he reiterated.
Hahn stated that the EU would continue to support Armenia in its process of political and social reforms, which aim to improve the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU has earmarked aid of €140-170 million for Armenia for the 2014-2017 period.
The commissioner also reiterated the need to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and underlined the importance of strictly respecting the ceasefire, of showing restraint in actions and declarations, and of creating a suitable climate for bringing progress to the settlement of the conflict. “A status quo is unacceptable”, Hahn said. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)