Armenia has chosen its direction, the Customs Union is one of the milestones: European Commission official
“I believe in the potential of Armenia-EU relations,” Christian Danielsson, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission, told in a meeting with the youth today .
The speaker reflected to three topics: challenges that the EU faces, the ways to overcome them together with the EU partners, as well as the potential of Armenia-EU relations.
Danielsson stated the EU is having hard times, due to which many EU citizens ask what the EU is meant for, which is also a challenge, to which they should reflect and work actively to neutralize those concerns. According to him this is a new political challenge.
Danielsson said the EU is facing economic challenges as well, as the worst recession was recorded in the period of 2008-2009, as a result of which several EU states suffered serious economic losses, unemployment has grown, however the EU still continues existing under those conditions. The next challenges, according to him, is migration and migrants, as the EU has understandably become an asylum for the many. “We also have challenges from outside—rather serious sharp steps by Russia, new US regime, Brexit,” Danielsson said.
He considers in this atmosphere it’s important for the EU that neighbors were stable. “There are challenges for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus. EaP allows its member countries to settle relations with the EU and its member countries, so that we will be able to jointly solve current issues. EaP generated ten years ago, this year we have the opportunity to gain more, we intend that the forthcoming summit in Brussels at best served its purpose. We wish that in future EaP fully reflected to challenges of the states, comprising a part,” he said. He also stated that EaP is the context of the EU and Armenia.
“We have reached to the point, where we’ll strengthen those relations, I’m thinking of the final stage of ongoing negotiations, which will reconfirm our mutual interests in many fields, it has a big potential to deepen our relations, we’ll work toward modernization of Armenia’s economy, thus, to be productive, together with Armenian Government we are formulating priority directions in restricted number. We have a potential for economic development, together he raise Armenia’s immunity, we are the biggest partners, Armenia exerts serious efforts to realize this potential,” the speaker said.
To the question whether Armenia may become the peculiar example, when it’ll comprise a part of two integration directions, being a part of EEU, deepening relations with the EU, Danielsson said there is no contrast. “Armenia has chosen its way, the Customs Union is one of the milestones, and relations with the EU is another component. By negotiating, we realize how close and rich relations we may have. I’m sure, that potential exists, and by making use of the future agreement, that potential may enlarge,” he said.
By Araks Martirosyan
