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The European Union is one of the key political and trading partners of Armenia, an Armenian deputy foreign minister said Thursday, adding the 2017 bilateral agenda was rather eventful.

“One of the most important achievements in 2017 was the completion of the talks on the [Armenia-EU] new framework agreement. During this period, the elaboration of the EU-Armenia Partnership Priorities were completed, determining the further development of bilateral cooperation in different spheres in 2017-2020. The discussions on the document on single assistance provided to Armenia by the EU are underway. The talks over a common aviation zone are finalized. Armenia continued to take part in Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers' meetings hosted by Warsaw, Chisinau and Tallinn,” Deputy Foreign Minister Garen Nazaryan said at today’s parliamentary debates on 2018 draft state budget.

The official reminded the EU provided assistance to Armenia to implement electoral reforms, namely to acquire technical equipment.

Touching upon the PACE autumn session, he highlighted Armenia’s sizeable gains, which should be attributed to the Armenian parliamentary delegation.

“The talks on the new framework agreement with the EU resumed to be finalized at the beginning of this year. Later on, the text of the document was prepared in Yerevan,” the deputy FM reminded.

Reflecting on the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the EU and Armenia, Mr. Nazaryan reminded that both Armenia and the EU have announced at the highest levels that they are ready to sign it in November. “As for the EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, he announced the agreement will be signed during the [Brissels] summit,” he added.