IN OPINION OF MINISTER OF ECONOMY, PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR SIGNING ARMENIA-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT TO LAST 3-5 YEARS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 19, 2009
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 19 the EU’s fact-finding
group that arrived in Yerevan to map out a preparatory process for
future possible negotiations of signing a deep and comprehensive free
trade agreement has summarized the work done during its 3-day visit.
The 23-expert group met with representatives of various Armenian
ministries and departments. The obstacles to trade, issues related
to customs administration and trade facilitation, origin of goods,
etc. were discussed with Armenian experts. The head of the fact-finding
group, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate General
for Trade Eva Synowiec expressed satisfaction with joint work. She
proposed that Armenian side present exhaustive written answers to
the unclarified issues by March 15.
"I think on the whole, the fact-finding mission has been successful,
and we will succeed in forming an agenda because the ambitions we have
concerning development programs are in line with European standards,
legislation and correspond to their notions in the institutional
sense," the RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian told reporters. In
response to NT correspondent’s question, he said that taking into
account the scope of reforms necessary for membership, the whole
preparatory process for signing an Armenia-EU agreement will last
3-5 years. "During this period we will see serious changes in terms
of the business environment, establishment of certain institutions,
export promotion, entrance into EU markets," the minister said.