According to Alexander Duleba, the EU Association Agreement is not just an opportunity to become part of the EU single market
* Two documents of strategic importance between Armenia and the EU that have been almost finalized – the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement – are on the negotiating table. Armenia hopes to sign the Association Agreement until the Eastern Partnership summit to take place in Vilnius in November. Mr. Duleba, do you think that we will manage to sign the Association Agreement until November, and what circumstances may hinder that process?
* First of all, I must state that Armenia has made good progress. As for the EU Association Agreement, there are certain procedures for post-Soviet countries; i.e., the agreement can be signed when it is initialed. One should first finalize the text of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, which is a part of the EU Association Agreement. So we should first complete negotiations, then the text will be translated into the languages of the EU member states, since it should be ratified by the parliaments of all countries, and this may last for three months, six months. If the agreement is initialed, then it will be clear that it will be signed in the future. Therefore, the issue is when negotiations on technical details will be completed. Afterwards, they will enter the phase of harmonization; i.e., it is a rather long process. In any event, it will be good if the agreement is signed by the Vilnius summit.
* It is known that besides Armenia, Moldova and Georgia, which are almost at the same stage, are also engaged in negotiations, and it will be possible to sign agreements with the three countries. How will you explain Armenia’s success in integrating with the EU, Mr. Duleba?
* First of all, one really should assert that Armenia’s progress in the past one year is nonetheless obvious. As recently as two years ago, people would say that Moldova and Georgia were the leaders in the integration with the EU, but it turned out that, thanks to the efforts of the Armenian government, your country is reaching the level of Moldova and Georgia in the negotiation process with the EU. I think that it is first and foremost the Armenian government’s success, since the EU has the same rules and criteria in negotiations with all member states; i.e., the EU’s position hasn’t changed; your government has made efforts in that direction.
* What political and economic advantages will Armenia gain by developing and enhancing relations with the EU if the EU Association Agreement is signed?
* One must clearly assert that it really is an agreement of strategic importance, since the agreement that has been offered to the Eastern Partnership countries is identical to, for example, the agreement between the EU and Norway. So the Eastern Partnership countries will gain the same status as Norway, which is not an EU member but is part of the EU single market, enjoys now and has enjoyed for many years. So Armenia will also become part of the EU single market, and it means that in the next 3-5 years, after the transition period, Armenia will become part of the EU single market, and it is a market that, despite the problems that exist in the EU these days – I mean the crisis in the EU and debts of some countries’ governments – is the richest market in the world, and being part of that market will be a great achievement and an opportunity for Armenia’s economy. As an example, let us consider what an opportunity it was for former Socialist countries – Slovakia. After Slovakia had become a member of the EU single market, its GNP increased thrice in 10 years.
* Taking into account the fact that in order to carry out the agreement, one will need to carry out infrastructural and other reforms. Can one assume that there will be financial assistance from the EU? And is it possible that the main donors of the EU and countries, such as, for example, Greece, that have serious financial problems will be seriously opposed to additional financing of Eastern Partnership countries.
* Everything depends on the Vilnius summit, i.e., sentiment among the EU member states, what policy one should pursue with the Eastern Partnership countries. If the Vilnius summit yields results – for example, the agreement with Ukraine is signed, or agreements with Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova are initialed – one can assume that there will be 90-percent probability that the size of the EU financing will increase. Certainly, the structure of the EU budget for the next 7 years, 2014-2021, which provides for spending much more money on the Eastern Partnership than before, is already there. Really, everything depends on whether the EU will assert that the Eastern Partnership countries have made progress and have really made their choice. If that choice is not there, if there is uncertainty in the negotiation process with the EU, and it is stated at the Vilnius summit that there is no progress, then the EU will not wish to expand financial support. And if there are results, many things will depend on the Vilnius summit. Generally, there is sentiment in the EU to invest more money in the Eastern Partnership countries. I would like to state that the choice offered by the EU is not just an opportunity to become part of the single market; it is also about modernization of the country’s economy. This is a very important factor that should be taken into account. This means that Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova will have to modernize, liberalize their economies, their society, and match them with the EU standards and the EU legislation. One should clearly understand that when Armenia signs that agreement, it should adopt the European legislation by at least 95 percent every year, but it is not only about adopting those statutes by your country’s parliament but also a demand that those statutes be enforced in everyday life. This is an important choice; it is not just an opportunity to become part of the EU single market, but one should also realize that it is the path of your country’s European development.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
Aravot Daily
