EU invests 2.6 billion euros in Armenia

ArmInfo. Armenia is interested in developing relations with the European Union. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated this during a meeting with  a delegation led by EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement  Oliver Varhelyi. As reported by the press service of the RA  government, Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the delegation led  by the Commissioner to our country, noting that this visit is  considered as the EU's interest in developing cooperation with the  Republic of Armenia.

According to acting the head of the Armenian government, after the  crisis caused by the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan, early  parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, which, according to  international observers, corresponded to democratic standards.

"In fact, for the first time in our country, democratic processes  have become a means of overcoming the crisis, since elections in  Armenia usually caused crises. Thus, a very important institution was  formed in our country - the institution of elections. It also took  place thanks to the assistance of the EU," Pashinyan said.

The RA Acting Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that the EU  continues to express its readiness to support programs aimed at the  development of Armenia. According to him, the programs are aimed at  strengthening democratic institutions, stimulating the economy,  developing small and medium-sized businesses and becoming a citizen  as an institution. "We highly appreciate the tangible package of  programs directed by the European Union to the progress of Armenia,  which we assess as a response to the irreversible democratic  processes taking place in the republic," he said. 

In turn, Varhelyi expressed the hope that the global crisis caused by  the cor onavirus pandemic is coming to an end, and the parties will  be able to start implementing programs aimed at the post-crisis  future.

" We want to participate in the development of Armenia's democratic  institutions and economic recovery.  We are ready to contribute to  the economic and social recovery of your country in an unprecedented  way in cooperation with the Government of Armenia without sparing any  effort," he said

The EU Commissioner, stressed that in the near future they will work  with the Armenian side on large- scale economic and investment  programs within the framework of the priorities set by the Armenian  government.

In this vein, he said that 1.6 billion euros out of the total package  of 2.6 billion envisaged for Armenia will be directed to the  implementation of 5 program areas: strengthening democracy, promoting  the economy, developing small and medium-sized businesses, energy,  infrastructure, etc. 

"Thanks to these large investments, we can achieve big changes. These  are significant and large-scale projects that we can implement  together," Oliver Varhelyi  said.

The European Commissioner also announced the EU's readiness to assist  in overcoming regional challenges, achieving interconnectedness and  economic integration.

The European official added that the EU, through new programs, will  help rebuild the regions affected by the 44-day war, contribute to  the fight against coronavirus, including through the provision of a  vaccine and the recognition of vaccination certificates.

In this regard, Pashinyan noted the effective implementation of the  large investment package provided by the EU to the Armenian side,  adding that the upcoming summit of the Eastern Partnership program  will give a new impetus to Armenia-EU cooperation, including the  process of liberalizing the visa regime and ensuring the further  application of the GSP + system.

The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia also touched  upon the post-war situation, stressed the importance of ensuring the  return of Armenian prisoners of war and highly appreciated the  personal contribution of the European Union, in particular, President  of the European Council Charles Michel, in returning 15 prisoners of  war during the pre-election period. 

He informed about Armenia's readiness to take humanitarian steps and  pointed out the importance of consistent steps by the international  community to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of  Nagorno-Karabakh.  S umming up the results of the meeting, the acting  Prime Minister stressed that the large package offered by the  European Union to Armenia is considered by the Armenian government  not so much as an opportunity to attract large financial resources,  but as the introduction of European values in the country.