EU, Armenia look into strengthening and deepening their partnership

ArmInfo.From 27-29 November, a delegation of the European External Action Service and  the European Commission visited Armenia to explore possibilities to deepen and strengthen EU-Armenia relations in all dimensions including under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  Agreement. This is stated in the message of the EU Delegation to Armenia.  The EU and Armenia are committed to building a partnership delivering tangible benefits to the citizens.  

The participants discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation and  delivery of reforms inter alia in the areas of energy, transport,  digital, research & innovation, including through investments. They  exchanged on how to best leverage investments to address the  immediate needs and enable integration of displaced Karabakh  Armenians, as well as to strengthen Armenia's economic and social  resilience in the longer term.  

Both the EU and Armenian side expressed an interest to continue the  cooperation on justice and police reform; to strengthen collaboration  on migration and mobility; and to explore options to possibly launch  a visa liberalisation dialogue with Armenia. It was also agreed to  explore areas to strengthen cooperation between the EU's Border and  Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and Armenia. The meetings further  confirmed the mutual interest of Armenia and the EU to further the  dialogue and cooperation in the areas of security and defence. The EU  will for instance further explore non-lethal support to the Armenian  military via the European Peace Facility.  

At the occasion of the visit, the EU and Armenia also inaugurated the  EU-Armenia Investment Coordination Platform. This platform brings  together the EU, the government of Armenia and International  Financial Institutions, and it will help further step up EU  investments in Armenia under the Economic and Investment Plan, which  has already mobilised close to EUR 500 million in Armenia. Two new  projects were signed during this first ever meeting of the Platform,  aimed at improving energy efficiency in kindergartens in cooperation  with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and providing support to  Armenian SMEs in cooperation with the European Bank for   Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).  

The EU reiterated its continued support to the normalization of  relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of  mutual recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of  borders based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration. Following the  discussions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 November, the EU  will also reinforce the EU Mission in Armenia.  

Along the EEAS and the European Commission, representatives of the  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European  Investment Bank (EIB) and Frontex joined the visit.  The delegation  met with Deputy Prime Minister Mr Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime  Minister Tigran Khachatryan, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Paruyr  Hovhannisyan and with the relevant Deputy Ministers.  They also  exchanged with the civil society organisations and representatives of  the UN agencies present on the ground.