NEWS

EU assesses progress in relations with Armenia: new country report released

30-05-2012

Negotiations for an EU-Armenia Association Agreement (AA) within the Eastern Partnership progressed at good pace last year, while Armenia made substantial progress in implementing key recommendations allowing for the launching of negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Overall, Armenia also made good progress in the areas of Democracy and Human Rights.These are some of the conclusions of the Country Report on how EU-Armenia relations evolved between 1 January and 31 December 2011 released by the European Commission. The report includes recommendations on how Armenia can step up the implementation of the AP.

On human rights, the report underlines the serious effort to address such issues, but says more needs to be done especially in the implementation of legislation. Positive steps were taken to prepare the country for upcoming elections, with changes in the electoral code and a presidential amnesty for the remaining persons detained for charges related to the March 2008 events, but the report highlights concerns about media freedom relating to the print media affiliation, limitations on TV broadcasting and to civil lawsuits for insult and defamation.
 
 On the economic front, the report says Armenia showed encouraging signs of recovery after the severe recession that resulted from the international crisis in 2009. It continued to progress towards meeting the objectives of the Action Plan in the area of macro- economic policy, poverty reduction and social cohesion.
 
Directives for negotiation between the EU and Armenia of visa facilitation and readmission agreements were adopted in December, and negotiations started on 27-28 February. In October 2011, the EU-Armenia Mobility Partnership was established.
 
The report said further efforts were needed to achieve progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It added the EU stood ready to provide enhanced support for confidence building measures, in support of and in full complementarity with the Minsk Group, with a view to facilitating further steps towards the implementation of peace.The EU continues to support the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions.
 
The report comes up with a number of recommendationswith a view to sustained implementation of the ENP Action Plan in 2012, in particular inviting Armenia to:
 
  • Ensure that the presidential elections scheduled for 2013 are in line with international standards by addressing the shortcomings identified by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of OSCE concerning the May 2012 parliamentary elections.
  • Step up efforts with Azerbaijan to reach agreement on the Madrid Principles in accordance with the commitments made by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the framework of the Minsk Group.
  • Provide unconditional access for representatives of the EU to NagornoKarabakh and surrounding regions.
  • Fully investigate the deaths that occurred during the clashes of March 2008 and the allegations of ill-treatment in police custody and violation of due process.
  • Ensure finalisation and implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan.
  • Adopt amendments to the legislation on broadcasting in compliance with the recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and ensure pluralism in the broadcasting media.
  • Finalise the draft law on Conscience and Religious Freedoms, in line with international standards as well as the legislation on alternative civilian service, in conformity with Venice Commission and OSCE recommendations.
  • Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, including further steps leading to the harmonisation of legislation with the EU acquis in the areas of gender equality and non-discrimination.
  • Strengthen enforcement of the Anti-Corruption Strategy and boost capacity for combating corruption.
  • Strengthen the implementation of the reform agenda presented by the Armenian authorities, including measures to reform public administration and the judicial sector.
  • Continue to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation to the EU acquis in trade and trade-related areas based on the key and additional recommendations identified in the preparation for the DCFTA.
  • Work towards the earliest possible closure of the Medzamor Nuclear Power Plant and adopt a detailed decommissioning plan for this plant, taking into account the result of stress tests.
The Armenia Progress Report is part of a set of documents released by the EU in the framework of its annual assessment of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
 
The package also incudes reports on progress in relations between the EU and its other Neighbours in the East (Azerbaijan, Georgia,Moldovaand Ukraine), the Report on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) activities in 2011, which takes stock of the progress in implementation of the EaP, and the Roadmap to the autumn 2013 EaP Summit, which sets out the objectives to be pursued in the near future and the expected achievements. (EU Neighbourhood Info) 
 
 
Read more
 
Armenia Progress Report and memo
  
Eastern Partnership – activities in 2011 Report 
 
Eastern Partnership: A Roadmap to the autumn 2013 Summit
 
Eastern Partnership Roadmap 2012-2013: Multilateral dimension 
 
Eastern Partnership Roadmap 2012-2013: Bilateral dimension
 
Info Centre alert - EU assesses reforms in the Neighbourhood (15 May)
 
EU NeighbourhoodInfo Centre country page - Armenia

 


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