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Armenia and the European Union will sign a new legal agreement, while specialized discussions with the appropriate bodies of the EU began in early 2015, Deputy Economy Minister of Armenia Garegin Melkonyan told reporters today.

As was reported, at a meeting held in Luxembourg on October 12 the Council of the European Union authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new, legally binding and overarching agreement with Armenia, and adopted the corresponding negotiating mandate. This agreement will replace the current EU-Armenia partnership and cooperation agreement.

The deputy minister said the specialized discussions were aimed at establishing a framework for cooperation between Armenia and the EU that the sides consider possible to approve through the new agreement. According to G. Melkonyan, after the discussions, there is currently a common understanding of what can be included in the new agreement and what shall be discussed during the negotiations.
“The Association Agreement with EU consisted of political, legal and economic sections. Besides, there was a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA). We tried to leave the widest possible scope of cooperation spheres, but also to see that there are no wordings contradicting the obligations assumed by Armenia as part of other formats of cooperation. Sectoral cooperation will include 28 directions, with all the spheres involved,” the deputy minister noted.

He added it is impossible include a part providing for zero customs duties in the new agreement with the EU. All the other provisions of DCFTA will be included in the agreement, although changes are also possible here, according to G. Melkonyan.