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EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY - ARMENIA
Edubourse.com (Communiques de presse)
April 3 2008
France
The EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) entered
into force in 1999, with the goal of promoting respect for democracy,
rule of law and human rights, as well as market economy reforms,
trade liberalisation and cooperation in a wide number of sectors.
The ENP Action Plan was adopted in November 2006 and its implementation
will be monitored and guided through the PCA Sub-Committees.
Major developments in 2007 and overall assessment
In general, Armenia has demonstrated a strong commitment towards
the implementation of the ENP Action Plan, despite some initial
delays caused by Parliamentary elections in May 2007 and internal
coordination issues.
Good progress was achieved in particular in the areas of
judiciary reform, the administration of elections and the Ombudsman
institution. Of key importance for 2008 will be proper implementation
of recently adopted legislation.
International observers have concluded that the conduct of the February
2008 Presidential elections was mostly in line with international
standards. There are however concerns with regard to the declaration of
the state of emergency in the aftermath of the elections and related
to clashes between police and opposition protesters. The situation
has shown that - despite progress achieved in 2007 regarding respect
for human rights and rule of law - there is a necessity for further
improvement.
In order to improve integrated border management at the national and
regional level, a project on regional border management in South
Caucasus (2008-2009) was launched in October 2007. Participating
countries agreed to implement measures on a bilateral basis
(,Armenia-Georgia, Azerbaijan-Georgia).
Armenia has managed well on the macro-economic side with a strong
growth in 2007 at a rate of 13.7% (double-digit for the sixth
consecutive year).
The bilateral trade with the EU grew by 17.4% compared to 2006 and
amounted to nearly ~@1 billion. The EU is Armenia's main trading
partner (nearly 40% share in Armenia's overall external trade).
The business climate has been further improved, although at slower
pace than in earlier years. More efforts are needed to improve the
customs administration.
Further progress was made in 2007 in reducing poverty - the proportion
of the population living under the poverty line has continued to
decline steadily to 29% in 2007 and the share of extreme poverty is
now down to 6.5% of the population.
The recent upgrading of the European Commission delegation in Yerevan
is a tangible sign of the Commission's commitment to the future
development of the country.
Some examples of how the EU supports reforms in Armenia
The EU is providing policy advice supporting economic, political and
social reform and development through the Armenian European Policy
and Legal Advice Centre (AEPLAC).
A very successful food security programme (~@100 million over 10 years)
is currently ongoing to support the government's poverty reduction
efforts by providing budgetary support and technical assistance for
key land and agricultural reform, public finance management and social
sector reform.
Regional development projects (together with the Council of Europe)
and EIDHR projects are supporting democratic reform.
Work is under way to support nuclear safety measures in order to keep
up sufficient safety standards for the country's outdated nuclear
power plant (Medzamor). Over a number of years the EU supported
the development of a comprehensive energy strategy for Armenia to
strengthen its energy security and develop alternative energy supplies.
A number of projects are focusing on education, especially in the
field of vocational training which is one of the priority areas in
the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy.
On higher education, reform continued in line with Bologna Process
principles with the support of the Tempus programme, which has been
the main driving force behind the modernisation of curricula and
improvements to the administrative and organisational structures of
universities. Student mobility to the EU increased (by 60% in 2007)
through participation in Erasmus Mundus.
In the area of youth, Armenia registered an increase (over 20%)
in participation rates in the relevant actions of the Youth in
Action programme as compared to 2006. Armenian young people and
youth workers were involved, for instance, in a large-scale project
on conflict management involving other partners from the Southern
Caucasus countries as well as from EU Member States.
Assistance to Armenia
In 2007, ~@21 million in Community assistance has been allocated
for Armenia.
An indicative amount of [email protected] million has been allocated for the
period 2007-10, under the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument.
The Communication from the Commission to the Parliament and the
Council Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007
(3 April 2008) and a country report on Armenia are available at
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm
More on Armenia and ENP
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/armeni a/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/inde x_en.htm
By Commission Europeenne (europa.eu.int)
http://www.edubourse.com/finance/ actualites.php?actu=39219
Edubourse.com (Communiques de presse)
April 3 2008
France
The EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) entered
into force in 1999, with the goal of promoting respect for democracy,
rule of law and human rights, as well as market economy reforms,
trade liberalisation and cooperation in a wide number of sectors.
The ENP Action Plan was adopted in November 2006 and its implementation
will be monitored and guided through the PCA Sub-Committees.
Major developments in 2007 and overall assessment
In general, Armenia has demonstrated a strong commitment towards
the implementation of the ENP Action Plan, despite some initial
delays caused by Parliamentary elections in May 2007 and internal
coordination issues.
Good progress was achieved in particular in the areas of
judiciary reform, the administration of elections and the Ombudsman
institution. Of key importance for 2008 will be proper implementation
of recently adopted legislation.
International observers have concluded that the conduct of the February
2008 Presidential elections was mostly in line with international
standards. There are however concerns with regard to the declaration of
the state of emergency in the aftermath of the elections and related
to clashes between police and opposition protesters. The situation
has shown that - despite progress achieved in 2007 regarding respect
for human rights and rule of law - there is a necessity for further
improvement.
In order to improve integrated border management at the national and
regional level, a project on regional border management in South
Caucasus (2008-2009) was launched in October 2007. Participating
countries agreed to implement measures on a bilateral basis
(,Armenia-Georgia, Azerbaijan-Georgia).
Armenia has managed well on the macro-economic side with a strong
growth in 2007 at a rate of 13.7% (double-digit for the sixth
consecutive year).
The bilateral trade with the EU grew by 17.4% compared to 2006 and
amounted to nearly ~@1 billion. The EU is Armenia's main trading
partner (nearly 40% share in Armenia's overall external trade).
The business climate has been further improved, although at slower
pace than in earlier years. More efforts are needed to improve the
customs administration.
Further progress was made in 2007 in reducing poverty - the proportion
of the population living under the poverty line has continued to
decline steadily to 29% in 2007 and the share of extreme poverty is
now down to 6.5% of the population.
The recent upgrading of the European Commission delegation in Yerevan
is a tangible sign of the Commission's commitment to the future
development of the country.
Some examples of how the EU supports reforms in Armenia
The EU is providing policy advice supporting economic, political and
social reform and development through the Armenian European Policy
and Legal Advice Centre (AEPLAC).
A very successful food security programme (~@100 million over 10 years)
is currently ongoing to support the government's poverty reduction
efforts by providing budgetary support and technical assistance for
key land and agricultural reform, public finance management and social
sector reform.
Regional development projects (together with the Council of Europe)
and EIDHR projects are supporting democratic reform.
Work is under way to support nuclear safety measures in order to keep
up sufficient safety standards for the country's outdated nuclear
power plant (Medzamor). Over a number of years the EU supported
the development of a comprehensive energy strategy for Armenia to
strengthen its energy security and develop alternative energy supplies.
A number of projects are focusing on education, especially in the
field of vocational training which is one of the priority areas in
the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy.
On higher education, reform continued in line with Bologna Process
principles with the support of the Tempus programme, which has been
the main driving force behind the modernisation of curricula and
improvements to the administrative and organisational structures of
universities. Student mobility to the EU increased (by 60% in 2007)
through participation in Erasmus Mundus.
In the area of youth, Armenia registered an increase (over 20%)
in participation rates in the relevant actions of the Youth in
Action programme as compared to 2006. Armenian young people and
youth workers were involved, for instance, in a large-scale project
on conflict management involving other partners from the Southern
Caucasus countries as well as from EU Member States.
Assistance to Armenia
In 2007, ~@21 million in Community assistance has been allocated
for Armenia.
An indicative amount of [email protected] million has been allocated for the
period 2007-10, under the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument.
The Communication from the Commission to the Parliament and the
Council Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007
(3 April 2008) and a country report on Armenia are available at
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm
More on Armenia and ENP
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/armeni a/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/inde x_en.htm
By Commission Europeenne (europa.eu.int)
http://www.edubourse.com/finance/ actualites.php?actu=39219