Armenia–European Union relations

Euro-Armenian relations

European Union	Armenia

Armenia
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Armenia and the European Union have maintained positive relations over the years.

Armenia-EU relations

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) (signed in 1996 and in force since 1999) serves as the legal framework for EU-Armenia bilateral relations. Since 2004, Armenia and the other South Caucasus states have been part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, encouraging closer ties between Armenia and the EU. An ENP Action Plan for Armenia was published on 2 March 2005, "highlighting areas in which bilateral cooperation could feasibly and valuably be strengthened." The plan sets "jointly defined priorities in selected areas for the next five years." In November 2005, formal consultations on the Action Plan were opened in Yerevan and as of 2008 are ongoing. However, most scholars and commentators have criticized the effectiveness of the ENP in facilitating reform objectives outlined in the Action Plan, especially in relation to democracy, corruption and civil society engagement. Armenia and the EU have been negotiating an Association Agreement, which might ultimately include a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, to replace their PCA since July 2010. In November 2012, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle stated that the AA negotiations could be finalized by November 2013.

The new EU Centre in Armenia, set to become the European Union communication hub, opened officially in central Yerevan on 31 January 2013.

Opinions

There is a lot of interest in Armenia eventually joining the European Union, especially among several prominent Armenian politicians and the general public in Armenia. However, former President Robert Kocharyan, has said he will keep Armenia tied to Russia and the CSTO for now, remaining partners, not members of the EU and NATO. It is unclear what position President Serzh Sargsyan will take on the issue.

According to Artur Baghdasarian, head of the Rule of Law party and former speaker of the Azgayin Zhoghov, Armenian membership in the European Union "should be one of the key priorities" of the country's "present and future foreign policy." Baghdasarian believes that "EU membership will open new avenues for Armenia to move to a new geopolitical milieu as well as a new economic environment." He also added that it "will enable Armenia to have access to a completely new security system." EU membership is on the agenda of many political parties in Armenia including the pro-Western Heritage party.

Public opinion in Armenia suggests that membership would be welcomed, with 64% out of a sample of 2,000 being in favour and only 11.8% being against. Another poll conducted in the Armenian capital Yerevan suggested that "as many as 72% of city residents believe, with varying degrees of conviction, that their country's future lies with the EU rather than the Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)." Still, more than two-thirds of the country's population believes that Armenia will not be ready to join the EU until at least 2015. A 2007 opinion poll indicated an increase in Armenian EU interest with 80% of the Armenian public favoring eventual membership.

Armenia's former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan reiterated in 2005 that "Armenia is Europe. This is a fact, it's not a response to a question." [1]. Torben Holtze, head of the European Commission's representation in Armenia and Georgia and Ambassador of the European Union with residence in Tbilisi, stated recently: "As a matter of principle, Armenia is a European country and like other European states it has the right to be an EU member provided it meets necessary standards and criteria." On 12 January 2002, the European Parliament noted that Armenia and Georgia may enter the EU in the future.

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan said there is a quite strong opinion in Armenia that the country’s future lies with Europe. “There is no talk about Asia,” he said, adding that Armenian society considers itself European and celebrates its European origins and values. He also said Armenia shares a significant history with Europe because Armenian comes from the same language family as many European languages.

See also

• Council of Europe
• Enlargement of the European Union
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• Future enlargement of the European Union
• Georgia–European Union relations
• INOGATE
• Moldova–European Union relations
• Ukraine–European Union relations

Further reading

• Fischer, Sabine: "European Policy towards the South Caucasus after the Georgia Crisis" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 1
• Ter-Gabrielyan, Gevorg: "Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum: The View of a Participant from Armenia" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 35-36

External links

• InsideEurope.org
• AEPLAC: Armenian-European Policy And Legal Advice Centre
• The European Commission's Delegation to Armenia
• Diplomatic Missions of the Republic of Armenia in Brussels
• Newsletter of Delegation of the European Union to Armenia