For the first time, the fact-finding full mission has arrived in Armenia which has examined the progress of the Armenian government under Generalized Privilege System Plus (GSP+) with regard to implementing the 27 basic international conventions. The EEAS Adviser on Trade Issues and Business Coordinator Guus Houttuin highlighted 3 major issues which have caused the EU specialist to have concerns about. The first one, according to him, is the deficit of the effective system of labor protection. The second one is the issue of adopting a necessary law to provide the full implementation of the requirements of the UN conventions, which will be intended for preventing family violence and fighting it. The 3rd issue, according to him, is the possession of fair and independent judicial system. Mr. Houttuin told that the first report was published at the beginning of 2016 and the period succeeding it they have called a honeymoon period: “Now we say that the honeymoon period is over and relatively speaking, the period of marriage has started, a period during which the both sides should make efforts and we expect that the efforts made by the government will constitute the provision of additional steps towards implementation of the mentioned 27 conventions of the UN, and for our part, the privileges of 8,7 million Euros and bilateral additional endeavors towards this.”
Asked what consequences Armenia’s government will face if it violates the “marriage agreement”, that is, if it does not fulfill the responsibilities taken, Guus Houttuin replied – I do not think that we have reached the point to think of the violation of the agreement: “That is the very last step over which the EU will think and if yes, then over the temporary suspension of the activities of the system. And if such situation comes forth, in the case of Armenia and the other 9 states, the following conclusion will be drawn, the EU will discuss the possibility of the temporary suspension of the privileges, but it depends upon the actions of the government, actually. Our report, as such, will represent neutral conclusions, trustworthy conclusions on the performance of all countries, Armenia encompassed, therefore, that report will not be the one at this stage advising to initiate an investigation at this moment. We have come in the status of examining and monitoring mission and not the investigative mission. The legal lining of the investigative mission would have been other, the one we are not. I would first and foremost advise you to read the report, it will be ready by 2018 and the succeeding actions will be based solely on it, but I am hopeful that the government will make the necessary step and will put the efforts required.”
As stated by him: “Our approach is as follows: when the states move up the hill, we help our beneficiary states pursuant to the GSP+ to fulfill the peculiar and heavy obligations in part of preserving the 27 conventions. At the moment we seek not the development of the worst scenario, but expect and are hopeful to see a progress. And together with the government, we are hopeful that we will be able to pin a progress.”
The adviser told that they would like to see additional actions by the government of Armenia, including via the aforementioned 3 points. “We would like to see not projects but actions more”: told Mr. Guus Houttuin urging the government to show the implemented actions in this autumn, to be able to comprise the in their report.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
