Financial-economic assistance should rely on the supremacy of EU values over everything else

The EU ambassador to Armenia on Friday reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to develop the bilateral partnership with Armenia, reiterating the Eastern Partnership’s (EaP) role as a core principle in its policies.

Speaking at a debate held by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on European Integration, Trajan Hristeaa said that the EU will remain faithful to the declared objective of developing a specific format of partnership with each of the EaP member states.

The diplomat said that the EU’s future relations with Armenia will be tailored to the country’s political choice to be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. He added that the Union has developed a mandate for future cooperation in an effort to make the relationship compatible with the new political situation. Mr Hristea said that the mandate will be discussed and the new EU-Armenia agreement will be negotiated before the EaP summit in Riga.

The amabassador further addressed the European Neighborhood’s 2014 report which he said reflects positive developments in Armenia without observing an essential progress in the fight against corruption. The ambassador noted that the report particularly addresses electoral reforms, a sector which he said the EU attaches much importance to in the cooperation with Armenia.

Mr Hristea said he hopes that the dialogue will raise Armenian citizens’ understanding of the EaP mission to address their needs and cited the visa liberalization policy as a good example facilitating the partnership.

He said the financial-economic assistance should rely on the supremacy of EU values over everything else, including in the fight against occupation.

He added that the EU has increased support to Armenia’s civil society in an effort to promote its active dialogue with the government.

Describing the developments after the EaP summit in Vilnius as a major geopolitical challenge, Mr Hristea said he is confident that its contribution remains and will remain on the basis of the EU policies.