Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenia: New Financing Agreements For Reforms Signed

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenia: New Financing Agreements For Reforms Signed

    Eurasia Review
    Sept 27 2012


    Armenia: New Financing Agreements For Reforms Signed

    By: Eurasia Review
    September 27, 2012



    Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Åtefan
    Füle, and Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, signed two new
    financing agreements between the European Union and Armenia in Yerevan
    on Thursday.

    Totalling ?¬43 million, the two agreements focus on institution
    building and will support the negotiations and implementation of the
    future EU-Armenia bilateral agreements: the Association Agreement and
    Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa
    Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.


    Armenia

    `I believe we are preparing the ground for an Armenia which is a state
    with more citizen-friendly institutions, an attractive investment
    destination and better conditions for those businesses which want to
    take advantage of new market opportunities,' Commissioner Füle said
    after signing the documents.

    EU bilateral assistance to Armenia under the European Neighbourhood
    Partnership Instrument is ?¬157 million for 2011-2013, double the
    amount for the previous period. On top of that, an additional ?¬ 15
    million have recently been allocated under the More for More
    principle. `The more reforms Armenia carries out the more the EU will
    be able to support it. Already today, EU support for Armenia has
    reached unprecedented levels' Commissioner Füle stated referring to
    the financial allocation so far.

    Through the financing agreements signed in Yerevan on Thursday, we
    will support Armenia's Sustainable Development Programme, focusing on
    several sector specific strategies such as Customs Administration,
    Quality infrastructure, Food Safety and e-governance. The expected
    results should have a direct bearing on the key milestones set for the
    bilateral co-operation under the Eastern Partnership:
    ¢Introduction of biometric passports will help Armenia to meet a key
    condition of visa liberalization;
    ¢improved data protection will open the way to deepened co-operation
    in justice, freedom and security;
    ¢improvements in the legal framework for public procurement will help
    Armenia along the road to new opportunities for tendering for public
    contracts on European Union markets.

    Background:

    During the period 2011 ` 2013, the EU's priority areas of cooperation
    with Armenia focus on improving democratic structures and good
    governance and facilitating trade, investment and socio-economic
    reform.

    The basis for the Financing Agreements signed today is the ENPI Annual
    Action Programme 2011, worth ?¬43.1 million and composed of two
    actions:

    `Framework Programme in support of the EU-Armenia agreement' ` ?¬19.1 million

    A central part of the EU support package channelled through the
    Eastern Partnership Comprehensive Institution Building (CIB)
    initiative.

    The Comprehensive Institutional Building supports partner countries in
    reforming those institutions in their country which are essential to
    negotiate and implement bilateral relations with the EU: Association
    Agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement
    (DCFTA), and Visa Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.

    In Armenia, this support will address the Institutional Reform Plans
    prepared by the government on three key reform challenges: (1)
    preparing for the negotiations of the Association Agreement between
    the EU and Armenia, (2) advancing reforms in justice, liberty and
    security and (3) preparing for the negotiations of the Deep and
    Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

    `Support to the Government of Armenia for the implementation of the
    ENP Action Plan and the preparation for the future Association
    Agreement' ` ?¬24 million

    The second major component of the EU assistance to Armenia, channelled
    via budget support programme, will focus on the implementation of the
    ENP Action Plan and reforms related to Public Finance Management and
    public sector transparency and performance, including e-governance. It
    will also assist further alignment of the Armenian trade regulations
    to the EU norms and standards.

    http://www.eurasiareview.com/27092012-armenia-new-financing-agreements-for-reforms-signed/

Working...
X