Brussels/Luxembourg, 13/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 12 October, the Foreign Affairs Council authorised the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to open negotiations on a new overarching and legally binding agreement with Armenia.
The Council therefore adopted the corresponding negotiating mandate. On 19 May, the Commission had adopted a recommendation at the Council aiming to authorise the opening of negotiations on a framework agreement between the EU and Armenia. The official launch of these negotiations is expected to take place before the end of the year. At the end of the discussions, the agreement will be presented to the member states for final adoption.
This agreement is to replace the current EU-Armenia partnership and cooperation agreement. In autumn 2013, Armenia decided not to sign its association agreement with the EU and to join the Eurasian economic union with Russia (see EUROPE 10914). During the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November 2013, the EU and Yerevan then reconfirmed their commitment to developing their cooperation (see EUROPE 10974).
“The EU is committed to further develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation with Armenia in all areas of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership framework”, the Council said in its press release. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)