YEREVAN (Arka) — Today, President Serzh Sarkisian met with the head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Peter Switalski, to discuss a set of issues pertinent to the Armenia-EU relations.
Sarkisian stressed that Armenia’s cooperation and development of relations with the EU remain a priority for Armenia’s foreign policy. The president expressed gratitude to the EU for their assistance in carrying out reforms in Armenia and emphasized that especially after the constitutional changes Armenia has entered a new stage of large-scale reforms.
Sarkisian discussed how he hoped that the assistance provided by the EU for the implementation of the reforms will be continuous, considering the efficiency of the assistance provided so far for the country.
Ambassador Switalski explained what type of expectations that were set in 2016. He hopes that the Armenia-EU bilateral relations will acquire a new quality and before the end of the year, negotiations on the new comprehensive Armenia-EU legal document will have been concluded.
Switalski reiterated the EU’s interest in assisting Armenia in the development of cooperation and implementation of the reforms.
Armenia and the EU launched talks on a new framework agreement on December 7, 2015 after EU Foreign Affairs Council authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new legal basis for relations with Armenia on October 13.
Armenia and the EU were supposed to sign the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) at a 2013 November Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius but on September 3 President Sarkisian announced that the country was going to become part of the Russian-led Customs Union. The new agreement will replace the current agreement on partnership and cooperation between the EU and Armenia.
