European Commission to Allocate €30 Million for Judicial Reforms in Armenia

The European Commission will allocate €30 million for the implementation of judicial reforms in Armenia. The issue of approving the proposal to sign the financing agreement titled “Support for the Implementation of Judicial Reforms in Armenia: Phase I” between the Republic of Armenia and the European Commission is on the agenda of the Armenian government’s meeting scheduled for September 24.

According to the project justification provided by Armenpress, the draft financing agreement stipulates funding for the European Union's program “Support for the Implementation of Judicial Reforms in Armenia: Phase I” in the amount of €30 million, out of which €3 million is dedicated to technical assistance (mainly consulting services) and the remaining €27 million will be allocated to the state budget in three equal tranches, in accordance with the general and special conditions of the agreement.

The program aims to assist the process of implementing reforms in the Republic of Armenia's justice sector in accordance with the obligations assumed under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the best practices of the EU. The overall goal of the program is to enable the rule of law in the justice sector and ensure effective measures against corruption.

The specific objectives include strengthening independence, integrity, and accountability within the justice system, improving the provision of services and performance, as well as enhancing the judicial system’s resistance to corruption.

The priorities underpinning the program are outlined in the Strategy for Judicial and Legal Reforms and its Action Plan for 2019-2023, which addresses issues such as combating corruption, ensuring the independence, impartiality, and accountability of judges, as well as enhancing the efficiency of the judiciary.

The program also reflects priorities found in Armenia’s anti-corruption strategy, including the establishment of a specialized anti-corruption court and relevant preventive, prosecutorial, and investigative bodies.

Through the provision of budgetary support, the Armenian government will have the opportunity to improve the financial capacity necessary for the development and implementation of justice sector and related anti-corruption policies. Technical assistance will facilitate the implementation of reforms, raising awareness, conducting regular ongoing monitoring, and improving the data collection mechanisms for compliance assessment.