ARMENIA ENJOYS ADVANTAGES OF AGREEMENT ABOUT FREE TRADE WITH EU

ARKA
Aug 4, 2009

YEREVAN, August 4. /ARKA/. Armenia is taking now the advantage of the
agreement about free trade with the European Union, being a member
of the Generalized System of Preferences GSP+ system, Armenian Deputy
Minister of Economy Vahe Danielyan told journalists last week.

Active efforts are made for Armenia to join the agreement, Danielyan
said.

The GSP+ system enables the countries paying "zero" or considerably
lower customs duties while exporting about 10,000 goods to the European
markets. The system allows reducing duties down to 52% for tobacco
imported to Europe, by 30% for natural juices, 20% for fruits, 14%
for vegetables, 20% for fish and 17% for honey.

About 52% of the goods produced in Armenia are included in GSP+
system, Danielyan said.

"This is quite an advantage for Armenia in terms of competition of
the goods with the produce of other countries that want to sell their
products on the European markets," Danielyan said.

He stressed that Armenia should not forget about the legislative
package that is a precondition for preferences granted by Europe to
Armenia. It is about 27 international conventions that Armenia joined,
Danielyan said.

Armenia should be consistent in meeting its obligations as GSP+
system preferences are granted to countries once every three years.

In December 2008, the European Commission app roved a list of countries
that will have the opportunity of enjoying advantages of GSP+ regime
from January 1 2009 up to the end of 2011 for sustainable development
and effective management.

TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument
of the Institution Building unit of Directorate-General Enlargement
of the European Commission.

It is to provide short-term technical assistance (within five
working days maximum) to member countries, in line with the overall
policy objectives of the European Commission, and in the field of
approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation.

Along with TAIEX, other instruments are available to Armenia,
i.e. Twinning, Sigma and European neighbourhood and partnership
instrument.