ArmInfo.Armenia is currently hosting the 4th round of negotiations on trade and investment in the context of the new Armenia-EU framework agreement, Garegin Melkonyan, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments, said when asked by ArmInfo about the current results of the new framework agreement and possible dates of signing.
Melkonyan takes a positive and constructive view of the negotiation process. He said that the sides have reached consensus on many issues over the past few months. Some issues on the agenda need thorough discussion. There are also "sensitive" issues for the sides. However, the deputy minister thinks that those issues, at least the ones related to trade and investments, can also be agreed by means of discussions.
At the same time, Melkonyan abstained from mentioning even approximate dates for conclusion of the legally binding document. He noted that the Armenian side gives higher priority to the content of the agreement rather than to the dates of its signing. "Hopefully, we will complete in the negotiations in the foreseeable future," he said.
Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said that the Brussels team of negotiators is in Armenia. According to Ambassador Switalski, the political part has been covered to a certain extent and now the negotiations focus on the trade and investment aspect. The Ambassador stressed that the progress is obvious.
Yerevan and Brussels were to initial AA/DCFTA in November 2013, however, in September 2013 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced Armenia's intention to join the Eurasia Economic Union. Many analysts explained this U-turn with pressure exerted by Moscow, but Yerevan has not admitted it.
On October 12, 2015, in Luxembourg, the Council authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new, legally binding and overarching agreement with Armenia, and adopted the corresponding negotiating mandate. This agreement will replace the current EU-Armenia partnership and cooperation agreement. The EU is committed to further develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation with Armenia in all areas of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership framework.
On December 7, 2015, at the EU Headquarters in Brussels, Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice- President of the Commission, announced the launch of negotiations on a new Armenia-European Union framework agreement. The first round of the talks was held in Brussels on Feb 16.