ARMENIA-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
18.02.2009 17:14

A European Commission’s experts team led by Director. Ms Ewa Synowiec
from Directorate General for Trade arrived in Yerevan today. This
mission will help in mapping out a preparatory process for possible
future negotiations of an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA)
between the European Union (EU) and Armenia. Deeper economic ties are
a key element in the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy and the new Eastern
Partnership initiative launched last December.

The European Commission’s team will hold 2 days of meetings at both
technical and senior level with Armenian officials. These discussions
should enable the European Commission to identify priorities for
reforms which would help Armenia prepare itself for the launch of
negotiations of a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with
the EU.

Such an FTA is an ambitious project. It would considerably upgrade
the present trade ties by offering both sides preferential access
to each other’s markets, supporting economic reforms in Armenia and
offering new opportunities for Armenian businesses. Implementing the
recommendations will help Armenia to enjoy the benefits of an agreement
more quickly. The EU is committed to continuing to assist Armenia in
its reform work, including by providing technical assistance.

The first discussion with members of the fact-finding group was held
at the 8 0Armenia Marriot" Hotel today.

"We will discuss a whole program, and in case of the successful
implementation of it we will ensure a business environment in the
Armenian trade market corresponding to European standards," RA
Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan said, adding that problems
in the legislation are less than in the mechanisms of their
implementation. Therefore, according to the Minister, besides
discussions on the Free Trade Agreement, they will try to get the
assistance of European experts in solving the above-mentioned problems.

Ms Ewa Synowiec noted they are in Armenia to discuss issues connected
with the preparatory stage of signing the FTA. "In an earlier stage
of discussions we clarified to what extent Armenia is ready and what
kind of Free Trade Agreements should be signed in the future. The
objective of this mission is to reveal and understand your problems
in the sphere of trade and help you prepare for the process of
negotiations more effectively."