RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE EU ADVISORY GROUP TO ARMENIA, LED BY HEAD OF EU DELEGATION IN ARMENIA, AMBASSADOR RAUL LUTZENBERGER

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received the EU Advisory Group to
Armenia, led by Head of EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Raul
Lutzenberger.

Greeting the guests, the head of government stressed the need for
keeping in close touch with the Advisory Group (AG) enabling thus both
sides to assess progress and outline areas of future cooperation on
a regular basis.

The AG members said to be highly appreciative of the Armenian
government’s commitment to cooperation. They advised that six new
experts are scheduled to join the Group to provide consultancy in
specific areas of activity.

A special mention was made of RA Government’s anti-corruption
efforts, administrative improvements in the tax and customs spheres,
transparency-aimed actions in the system of public governance and
State procurements, as well as the passing of a law on State service.

The parties spoke about the progress in preparative work for the
signing of a free trade regime agreement, enacting simplified export
procedures, introducing the GSP+ system in Armenia. They also looked at
the possibility of strengthening the Council on Economic Competition
and the SME support centers. In this light, they made a point of
improving public debt management practices and building the capacity
of relevant units of the Ministry of Finance.

Customs-related improvements, too, were discussed at the meeting,
including the need for applying simplified clearance procedures and
providing training for customs officers. The parties also spoke about
the government’s public relations strategy.

The members of the Advisory Group outlined possibilities for expanding
the scope of their work by noting that Armenia is a worldwide leader
in this format of cooperation.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister thanked the EU Advisory Group
members for useful and badly needed consultancy.