InternationalEU seeks closer ties with Armenia
Published: Saturday January 24, 2009
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU commissioner for external relations and European Neighborhood Policy, in Yerevan, Jan. 19. 2009. Photolure
Yerevan - Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU commissioner for external relations and European Neighborhood Policy, expects Armenia to double its efforts at reform. In a joint press conference with Armenia's foreign minister on January 19, the commissioner welcomed a new initiative to deploy EU experts within the Armenian administration at a high level to support Armenia's reform efforts, which are essential to help Armenia draw the advantages of a closer relationship with Europe.
This is the first visit of Ms. Ferrero-Waldner to the region after the European Commission's proposal last December to have closer ties with Armenia and five other ex-Soviet states - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus. The new "Eastern Partnership" program will offer Armenia and the other five countries a step forward in relations with the EU, but will not be an offer of eventual EU membership.
Ms. Ferrero-Waldner said that a summit has been scheduled for May 7 with the six countries, without elaborating about the place and level of the summit.
As reported before a total of 600 million euros would be made available for the program up to 2013. That would be in addition to current financing to the six nations which are already part of the EU's Neighborhood Program.
