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Negotiations over the new comprehensive legal document between Armenia and the European Union (EU) are underway with six phases completed, Karen Nazaryan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, told on Thursday during the discussion over the 2017 Draft State Budget held in the National Assembly.

Nazaryan informed that the next regular session is slated for December in Brussels, expressing hope to fulfill the process in the nearest future.

MP Naira Zohrabyan asked at what extent economic elements are integrated in the new document, considering the fact that ‘Armenia has not gained much benefit thus far from the Eurasian Economic Union’.
Karen Nazaryan stated the negotiations are conducted in three main directions - political dialogue, cooperation in the spheres and the trade among them.  

Deputy Minister of Economy Garegin Melkonyan, present at the discussion, said there were certain differences between the current document and the Association Agreement, (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement with the European Union).

“The key difference is that the document under consideration is not a free trade agreement by its nature and does not envisage mutual cancellation of customs duties,” said Melkonyan.

He next informed that the cooperation in all spheres reflected in the Association agreement is still negotiated with fewer obligations, considering Armenia’s existing commitments taken in other integration formats.