Armenia-EU most wrinkled issues left to final stages
The most difficult issues on Armenia-EU negotiations are being yet bypassed. As already known, 7th stage of Armenia-EU negotiations was launched in Brussels these days, which, upon assessment of the parties, again was held in a positive atmosphere, recording positive results. It’s not a secret either that it’s been a few months that negotiations are developed around “trade and investments,” which will comprise a part of Armenia-EU new framework agreement.
As compared to the Association Agreement (AA) negotiated three years ago, which includes agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), in the new agreement the field of “trade and investments” will be introduced with a few points.
Upon information under the disposal of 168.am, negotiations lasting for already a few months around this bloc are held without discordances, as the parties cover issues of the bloc not causing issues to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). According to our source, the most wrinkled issues of this bloc have been left to the last few stages, which the parties plan to end in March. According to our interlocutor. The EU continues providing Armenia the possibility of choice in negotiations.
“The EU, upon its reviewed Neighborhood Policy, provides the opportunity to Armenia, by its international responsibilities, shape Armenia-EU forthcoming framework agreement, as it wishes. Armenia freely decides which opportunities of the EU it may make use of,” said our source.
It should be noted, that on October 12, 2015 Foreign Relations Council authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to start negotiations with Armenia around a new, legally binding, comprehensive agreement and provided the negotiating mandate accordingly. The negotiations were officially launched on December 7, 2015. The new agreement will replace EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
By Araks Martirosyan
