Greece shifting ENP vector from east to south

PanARMENIAN.Net - Greece, the country that assumed the EU presidency in the first half of 2014, is shifting the vector in the European Neighborhood Policy from east to south, KyivPost reports.

"The EU's Southern Neighborhood is of very great importance to us, as it is for other countries. Lithuania, whose presidency just ended, focused on the Eastern Neighborhood – Ukraine, Armenia, etc. So we are putting an emphasis on the Southern Neighborhood and we are cultivating relations there," Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said.

In this regard, Venizelos cited the example of a relationship that Greece has formed in recent months with Egypt, which "is very useful in many ways to the whole region and to the whole Mediterranean."

The European Neighborhood Policy consists of two directions – eastern and southern. The southern direction includes Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia. The eastern vector includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Greece took over the EU presidency on January 1 this year. In the second half of 2014, it will be replaced by Italy.

Armenia completed technical talks on a ‘deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political integration with the EU.

However, during a September 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural assistance to Armenia.

The roadmap for Armenia’s accession to the Russia-led Union has been already singed.