EU TO ALLOCATE 33M EUROS TO ARMENIA FOR INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES UNDER EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
/ARKA/
September 15, 2009
YEREVAN
The European Union is to allocate about 33 million euro to Armenia
for strengthening of institutional structures in 2011-2013 under
the Eastern Partnership program, DGRELEX head of unit for Ukraine,
Moldova, Belarus and South Caucasus John Kjaer said at the presentation
of the program in Yerevan Tuesday.
The program has four main directions – free trade, simplification of
visa regime, cooperation in energy sector and respect for democracy
principles, Kjaer said. The program envisages deeper bilateral
cooperation in an expanded format, he said.
According to Kjaer, the program will facilitate the European
integration of Armenia.
An EU expert group is to start working in Armenia by late 2009. The
group will be studying the market, the legislation, compliance with
EU-set criteria.
Eastern partnership initiative with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as participants was officially launched
at EU summit in Prague in May.
The program envisages negotiating over introduction of free trade
zones, signing of strategic agreements, student exchange programs,
environmental protection and energy supplies and simplification of
visa regime.
The EU has already started simplifying the visa regime with Ukraine
and Moldova.