Tuesday, November 26 2019 20:38

ArmInfo.Armenia wants more practical interaction between the countries of the EU Eastern Partnership program after 2020. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Avet  Adonts announced on November 26 in Yerevan at a press conference on  the anniversary of the signing of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and  Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), answering to ArmInfo's  question.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to the  President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, for  initiating consultations on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

At the same time, he noted that Armenia presented its vision  regarding the further vector of development of the EaP and pointed to  the contribution that the republic made to the development of the  project. "After 2020, Armenia would like to have a greater  involvement in infrastructure projects within the framework of the  Eastern Partnership. Moreover, we want more practical cooperation  between the six countries of the initiative," Adonts said.

In turn, Luc Devigne, Director for Russia, Eastern partnership,  Central Asia and OSCE; Deputy Managing Director for Europe and  Central Asia at the European External Action Service, assured that in  almost all 4 blocks within the framework of the EaP initiative,  successful results were achieved in terms of their implementation.  According to him, they are not satisfied with the results only in  terms of establishing the rule of law. According to Devigne,  successful consultations have already been held within the framework  of the platform, in which representatives of more than 200 different  enterprises participated, which is already unprecedented.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Meredith, the Director for Neighbourhood East, DG  Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), European  Commission, expressed his conviction that the Juncker's initiative to  exchange views on the future vector of the Eastern Partnership would  be useful. "In June next year, a high-level Eastern Partnership  summit will be held, where a further development vector will be  outlined," Meredith summed up.

To recall, on July 26, the EU announced the launch of large-scale and  inclusive structured consultations on the future strategic direction  of the Eastern Partnership. According to the EU, the strengthening of  cooperation between the EU, its member countries and Armenia,  Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine turned out  to be mutually beneficial initiative and brought concrete results  that have been felt by the citizens of these countries over the past  10 years.  The EU noted that the joint reform of the "20 achievable  results for 2020" agenda has been successfully implemented, and has  borne fruit, strengthening the economies of partner countries,  building capacity in governance, greater cohesion of communities in  the region. Celebrating 10 years of initiative at the high- level  conference on May 14, European Commission President Jean-Claude  Juncker announced the launch of a consultation on the future of the  Eastern Partnership.  All partners were invited to submit their  proposals on this page until October 31, 2019. During this period, it  was planned to conduct appropriate consultations and meetings both in  partner countries and in the EU itself.  Based on the proposals and  comments received, a document will be prepared that outlines the  proposed new framework for the development of the Eastern Partnership  after 2020.