ArmInfo. The Armenia-EU Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission welcomes the signing of the Agreement on Enhanced and Comprehensive Cooperation between the RA and EU, calling the document historic, the statement of the commission adopted at the end of the 17th meeting in Yerevan stated.
The statement notes that the document opens new horizons for Armenia-EU cooperation. The Commission also encourages the parties to be consistent in implementing the provisions of the Agreement.
The document also calls on the parliaments of European countries to ratify the agreement in a short time. The Commission considers promising the fact that Armenia has signed an agreement with the EU as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The statement notes Armenia's progress towards democratic reforms, however, there is also a provision on the need for their continuation and intensification. Despite some progress in the field of democratic reforms, the Commission deplores the number of unresolved problems in this field, in the resolution of which Armenia can rely on all EU assistance. The commission also reports that the EU will provide 160 million euros to Armenia from 2017 to 2020 for economic development, implementation of democratic reforms, environmental and energy purposes. The emphasis is on diversification of the energy sphere and provision of safe energy sources.
The authors of the statement as a whole positively assessed the elections held in Armenia in April, pointing out some shortcomings. The statement also calls for ensuring gender equality in Armenia, taking full advantage of the potential of women in various fields and to eradicate the negative trends and processes that exist in this area. The Commission also calls on to fully combat the manifestations of family violence, stressing that Armenia in this process can fully rely on EU assistance.
The Commission also calls on the EU to increase assistance to Armenia in order to implement the provisions of the Agreement on an expanded and comprehensive partnership. The statement emphasizes that a special emphasis in the implementation of financial programs of the EU will be put on democratic reforms and the protection of human rights.
The Commission expresses its satisfaction with the assistance of Armenia in the issue of the reception and integration of Syrian refugees.