European pluralism: officials can’t decide on Armenia

September 6, 2013 - 23:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - It seems that European officials can’t agree on how to react to Armenia’s decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union, as the statements they make regarding the issue are quite contradictory.

At first, Europe was furious about Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s announcement.

"We expect clarifications from Armenia, and then we will be able to assess the consequences this move may have," Maja Kocijancic , a spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said in Brussels.

Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia “has blocked its chances of signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join the Russia-led union.”

“We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different tariff requirements,” he said.

In a separate statement, Linkevicius and seven other ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian pressure on post-Soviet states. “Any economic threat or political pressure directed against Eastern partners because of their European aspirations and engagement with the EU is unacceptable,” they said.

Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament responsible for neighbourhood policies said that Armenia is turning away from Europe. "By saying yes to a Customs Union with Russia, Armenia is saying yes to more dependence on the Putin regime and No to a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. With this step, the prospects for democracy will be weakened and the risk of increased Russian influence over its neighbors will increase," he stated.

Besides, The European People's Party (EPP) Political Assembly (PA) issued a statement, which says: “EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) project has been under threat since, in an alarming move, Russia continues to escalate the pressure it exerts on neighboring countries. Specifically, it has launched trade disputes with Ukraine and Moldova and threatened the national interests of Armenia, which has forced Armenia into the Eurasian Customs Union. Moreover, this activity is accompanied by a massive information campaign by Russia aimed at discrediting the benefits of the EU Association Agreement as well as targeting key proponents of EU integration. The Eurasian Union is an instrument being used by the Russian leadership to prevent neighboring countries enhancing their integration with Europe in order to maintain them as Russian satellite states. Successive EU enlargements have brought Eastern Partnership countries closer to the EU and their security, stability and prosperity increasingly impact upon the EU. The European People’s Party is convinced that this unacceptable behaviour by Russia will havea negative impact on EU-Russia relations.”

However, the European Commission said that the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia can be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalized the negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia. This agreement would allow Armenia with the EU´s support, to drive forward a program of comprehensive modernization and reform based upon shared values, political association and economic integration. We take note of Armenia's apparent wish to join the Customs Union. We look forward to understanding better from Armenia what their intentions are and how they wish to ensure compatibility between these and the commitments undertaken through the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this consultation has been completed, we will draw our conclusions on the way forward. We want to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is a blueprint for reforms beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game and could be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the Commission said.

When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at the Vilnius Summit in November 2013.

“This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to go through comprehensive change both politically and economically. Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia’s plans of joining the Custom’s Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia, yet we don’t think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association Agreements,” he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it’s not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.

Pluralism is certainly a good thing but European officials had better finally decide how to treat Armenia. Otherwise, this unnatural disagreement may seem to be just a bad performance.