Negotiating directives for Association Agreements with South Caucasus countries to be submitted to Foreign Affairs Council

PanARMENIAN.Net - European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Mr. Stefan Fule has said that the negotiating directives for Association Agreements with the South Caucasus countries will be presented for formal adoption at the Foreign Affairs Council on May 10.

“This will pave the way for the EU side to prepare for the launch of negotiations. These Agreements will allow for close political association between each of the partners in the South Caucasus and the EU, building on common values and shared principles,” he said in his address to the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“Closely linked to the Association Agreements, the EU's offer to establish deep and comprehensive free trade areas is also an immensely important opportunity for those South Caucasus countries that have fulfilled the preconditions. Such agreements of economic integration will provide access to the EU market of 500 million consumers and will help increasing trade flows and investments. The area of visas and facilitating the mobility of persons is a field where the partners in the South Caucasus are calling for more from the EU, feeling the pressure from citizens experiencing complicated and lengthy procedures. The visa facilitation and readmission agreements for Georgia have already successfully been negotiated. Georgians can soon benefit from lower fees and easier visa rules. Following the example of Georgia, Armenians and Azerbaijanis would similarly like to start discussions with the EU that will facilitate travelling for citizens,” Mr. Fule said.

“It is clear that the demands are high from our partners in the South Caucasus. But so are also the EU's requirements on these partner countries to make sure that their legislation is in place and their administrative capacities strong enough to turn political ambitions into actual delivery of results. My message to the leaders in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia has been and will always be that the responsibility for the internal reform processes and the strengthening of democracy and rule of law lie firmly in the hands of the governments and politicians of those countries. The Commission will provide technical and financial assistance to help the partners meet their objectives notably through the new Comprehensive Institution Building programmes that we are designing together with our partners in the East,” he said.