Brussels, 20/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 19 May, the European Commission adopted a recommendation for the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations on a framework agreement between the European Union and Armenia. The Council will now give its approval for the Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to be able to open these negotiations. The framework agreement will then be presented to the member states for final adoption.
In the autumn of 2013 Armenia decided not to sign its association agreement with the EU but to join the Eurasian Economic Union with Russia (see EUROPE 10914). At the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November 2013, the EU and Armenia nevertheless re-asserted their commitment to develop and strengthen their cooperation. The two parties launched a reflection exercise in 2014 on the scope of a future renewed agreement of cooperation, clarifying the areas that are compatible with Armenia's new commitments under the Eurasian Economic Union. At the start of this year, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn had hoped that the official launch of these negotiations might take place at the Eastern Partnership in Riga on 21-22 May (see EUROPE 11278 and other article). (Camille-Cerise Gessant)