European official details Armenia’s action plan for New Neighbourhood
programme

Mediamax news agency
3 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The head of the economic, political and information department of the
European Commission delegation in Georgia and Armenia, Jacques
Vantomme, presented in Yerevan today the report on Armenia published
by the European Commission on 2 March.

Vantomme said that the European Commission has recommended that the
Council of the European Union initiate talks with Armenia on the
beginning of the work on the Individual Action Plan within the
framework of the EU’s New Neighbourhood policy.

Vantomme pointed out that the main provisions of the Individual Action
Plan include:

strengthening democratic institutions and reform of the election
legislation in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of
Europe and the OSCE, holding democratic elections, reform of the local
government system and of constitution in accordance with the Council
of Europe recommendations;

strengthening the protection of human right and fundamental freedoms;

improving the business climate and modernizing the public sector;

continuing efforts to fight corruption, reform of the tax and customs
administration and legislation, ensuring progress in poverty
reduction;

mothballing the Armenian nuclear power plant;

ensuring progress in the settlement of conflicts and enhanced regional
cooperation.

Vantomme confirmed today that the European Union is ready to allocate
100m euros to Armenia to provide it with alternative energy sources
after the nuclear power plant has been mothballed. Although the
European Union insists on closing down the nuclear power plant, no
specific date has been given, he added.

Commenting on the settlement of conflicts, Vantomme pointed out that
in the future the European Union will continue to render the necessary
assistance to the OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress