European Report
February 23, 2005
EU/ARMENIA: OFFICIALS MEET FOR EXPLORATORY TALKS ON PARTNERSHIP
For the first time high-ranking Armenian officials met
representatives from EU institutions and civil society in Brussels on
February 21 for a round table discussion of a future European
Neighbourhood Policy for Armenia.
In July 2004, the EU’s Council of Ministers endorsed the inclusion of
Armenia in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), based on a
recommendation of the European Commission. Along with Armenia, two
other Southern Caucasus countries were invited into the ENP:
Azerbaijan and Georgia. This instable region was identified by the
EU’s December 2003 European Security Strategy for close monitoring by
the EU. The ENP objective is to share the benefits of the enlarged EU
with its neighbouring countries but distinct from full EU membership,
thus avoiding hard political and economic divisions across the
continent. Transformations for Armenia involve economic integration,
political cooperation and societal reforms.
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia all have so-called Partnership and
Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with the EU. But offering them ENP
status will mean a significantly enhanced partnership with the EU.
The Commission will prepare country reports to be presented to the
European Council in spring 2005. Armenia’s report is being developed
and due by mid-March. The reports will, in turn, eventually lead to
an action plan for each country, tailored to fit its needs and
interests for a three-to-five year period.
How far are the partners willing to go?
The outcome of the round table couldn’t have been clearer about
Armenia’s part. “Entering the ENP is very valuable to us,” said Armen
Baiburdian, deputy foreign minister of Armenia. He added: “The aim is
to bring Armenia to a European-level developed country, with EU
institutions and EU values…to join the EU family.” He stressed the
progress Armenia has made since 1999, when Armenia signed its
European Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The latter is a
first-stage relationship between the EU and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia.
In Armenia, 24 working groups have been set up to comply to PCA
implementation along with the appointment and training of around 150
government officials with the support the EU-funded project know as
AEPLAC.
Alona Bruce, deputy to the director of the Open Society Institute in
Brussels, emphasised the value of civil society’s contribution to the
EU’s country reports and action plans. Michael Emerson, senior
research fellow at the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy
Studies welcomed Armenia’s future ENP, but said the country still has
a number of standards to reach. These concern conflict resolution
with Azerbaijan; economic, social and judicial transformations; and
better communication with Armenia’s neighbours of Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Russia. Regarding Armenia’s economy, for instance, Daniel
Gros, CEPS’ director, said the country’s exports to the EU are still
very low – only 10 % of its gross domestic product.