Prime minister: Armenia ready to expand cooperation with European Union
The government of Armenia stands ready to expand cooperation with the EU for improving its business environment, attracting new investment and introduction of a European control culture, prime minister Karen Karapetyan said on Tuesday as he welcomed the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Peter Switalski.
"The Armenian government is ready to advance cooperation with the European Union in economy, democracy, human rights, mobility, good governance and other fields of mutual interest", Karapetyan was quoted as saying by the government press office.
Noting that the fifth round of negotiations on a new framework agreement between Armenia and the European Union will begin soon, Karapetyan expressed confidence that the parties will manage to keep the positive trend.
The prime minister emphasized the EU-funded COSME and Horizon 2020 programs, saying these programs will enable Armenia to make progress in boosting small and medium-sized businesses, as well as in research and innovation skills.
The prime minister noted also the importance of EU’s technical assistance in the process of reforms implemented in Armenia and the involvement of European financial institutions in a variety of infrastructure projects in the country.
In turn Switalski Karapetyan congratulated Karapetyan on his appointment as prime minister reiterating EU's readiness to assist the Armenian government in the conduct of successive reforms, noting also that today’s Armenia-EU agenda can provide positive development and identify promising programs that will be recorded in the new framework agreement.
Switalski welcomed the government’s target programs aimed at the development of SMEs and improving the business environment, confirming the EU's interest in assisting Armenia’s government.
The two men were said to have also spoken on visa liberalization, cooperation in the field of aviation and other issues. -0--