Armenia-EU agreement to provide basis for developing more extensive package of mutual partnership: Garegin Melkonyan

“Armenia-EU whole toolset is being implemented,” Garegin Melkonyan – First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments, told reporters today, reflecting to support provided to Armenia.

The Deputy Minister said by the end of previous year and this year Armenia signed a package of agreements, by which 51 million Euro support should be implemented this year and in the period of forthcoming years. In his words considerable part—about 50 million is a budget support program, within which last year unprecedented high financial allocation to the state budget has been implemented—27.5 million Euros.

“You know that, except the budget support program, we have other programs being implemented in Armenia under the EU finance and assistance. Those are ‘Twinning’, ‘TAIEX’, ‘SIGMA’, ‘Black Sea Basin program’ and etc., and two major instruments which Armenia joined by signing the respective documents. ‘Cosme’ program relates to small and medium enterprises and ‘Horizon 2020’ concerns science and education”, the Deputy Minister said and expressed confidence that the Armenia-EU initialed agreement will provide basis for developing a more extensive package of partnership with the European Union.

Melkonyan said Armenia has already submitted applications for receiving assistance under the EU’s ‘Cosme’ program. “In order to boost the number of applications for ‘Cosme” from Armenia, we have held a number of workshops by the active engagement of the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center. SME DNC program already receives ‘Cosme’ funds, and there are several applications that are already submitted by the SME DNC involvement. There are programs that are currently at the development stage and will also be presented,” Garegin Melkonyan said.

By Araks Martirosyan