ArmInfo. The proposal of the European Parliament to create a common economic space between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, in general, contains quite good opportunities, Sos Avetisyan, MP of the My Step parliamentary faction, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo commenting on the idea of creating a common economic space between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries.
"In the post-coronavirus world, especially in the context of the continued spread of infection, economic cooperation at the global level needs, to the extent possible, diversification and deepening in various directions. In this light, the Armenian Foreign Ministry needs to give recommendations to the government based on a thorough study of the contents of this EU proposal to develop appropriate policies, "he said.
Avetisyan believes that this proposal of the Europeans may be of interest to Russia, given that the continuation of the confrontation even after overcoming the coronavirus does not proceed from the economic interests of the partner countries. According to his estimates, in this light, it is necessary to develop mechanisms to talk about the correlation, and not the opposition of economic interests.
According to the parliamentarian, the importance of Russia for Armenia as a strategic partner in no way cancels the priority of national interests for Armenia. In this light, he sees the need to seek opportunities for correlation of interests and development of ways in the direction of diversification of economic cooperation. According to Avetisyan, the world order based on greater interaction, is the best opportunity for economic recovery. And everyone should realize this.
"The proposal clearly needs to be carefully studied to understand what the EU means by economic cooperation, what is the" Eastern Partnership ", and how it will all correspond with the existing obligations of Armenia. In any case, I think this idea is very good, because at some point, all countries of the world will refuse to maintain dividing lines, based, inter alia, on their own interests. Judging by the periodic consultations of leaders of various countries, it is already recognized today that global challenges imply global full responsibility, "the parliamentarian summed up.
To recall, a draft report was developed in the European Parliament with a proposal to create a single economic space with the countries of the Eastern Partnership. The project will be discussed at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and may be approved by the European Commission in May. The creation of a "common economic space" is part of a strategy for the gradual integration into Europe of six countries of the Eastern Partnership program: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova.
According to the draft report, the EU will support the gradual integration of the six countries into the EU energy union, transport community and a single digital market. Among other things, in the field of telecommunications, the document proposes in the near future to establish a "regime without roaming between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries and a communication mode within the Eastern Partnership."