Mher Grigoryan on Cooperation with the EU

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia, representatives of the EU delegation and the Armenian government emphasized the deepening of Armenia-EU partnership, assessed the progress of the CEPA roadmap implementation, and discussed ways to enhance the effectiveness of the agreement. This was reported by the Armenian government.

The event, attended by around 80 participants, provided a platform for exchanging ideas among partners and strategic discussions regarding the reforms stemming from the CEPA. Representatives of the Armenian government spoke about their approaches to the implementation of the CEPA, presenting key achievements for 2024, existing challenges, and priority areas for further EU support.

The head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Vasilis Maragos, reaffirmed that the CEPA serves as the main legal framework for EU-Armenia relations and highly appreciated Armenia's commitment to reforms despite existing challenges. “We acknowledge the progress recorded by the Armenian authorities, but we must jointly accelerate the pace of reforms and deepen EU-Armenia cooperation by fully utilizing the potential of the CEPA, especially regarding the implementation of EU standards in economic development. Armenia and the EU will soon conclude negotiations on a new partnership agenda that will expand our cooperation in areas such as security sector reforms and visa liberalization,” added Maragos.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated that “in light of geopolitical developments, discussing and assessing the progress of the essential agenda of the RA - the course of reforms is crucial, as its proper understanding, recognition, and implementation are important for the country's stable development and progress.” He also added, “Despite the numerous internal and external challenges, the Armenian government is steadily moving toward implementing the reforms it has outlined, making necessary adjustments along the way, and closely cooperating with the European Union.”

The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the processes of forming ambitious approaches stemming from the deepening bilateral relations with the EU, particularly the new partnership agenda being negotiated between Armenia and the European Union, and the EU Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia which is currently under discussion with the European Commission.

Invited speaker, former European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, former Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and former head of the EU delegation to the Council of Europe, Ms. Meglena Kuneva, presented Bulgaria's experience in reforms and EU accession. She emphasized the key importance of a robust public administration system for the successful implementation of reforms related to the EU.

During the CEPA's second off-site meeting, the mutual commitment of the European Union and the Republic of Armenia to deepen cooperation under the Agreement was reaffirmed. Moving forward, the parties will continue to work together to promote reforms, strengthen the governance system, and ensure tangible results for the citizens of Armenia within the framework of the CEPA.