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The European Union has expressed a strong support for Armenia’s reform efforts in the field of judiciary, which has been communicated to Armenia at different levels, outgoing EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Świtalski told a news conference on Monday.

“The EU is determined to support the efforts of the Armenian side to reform the judiciary, to build a truly independent, clean judicial system, which includes political support, technical support and also financial support,” the diplomat said, adding two trenches of support are being discussed now – the immediate support available from this autumn and a multi-million euro support being extended for the next few years.

Świtalski stressed the EU doesn’t impose any model of reform, but is ready to provide technical support and mobilize experts who would share with Armenia the experience of the reform efforts of other countries in any necessary field.

Asked to comment on the opposition criticism that the judicial reforms, in particular the vetting, is aimed at creating a judiciary subordinate to the current authorities, the ambassador said the EU delegation and the embassies of its members in Armenia have already expressed their position on the matter.

“Let me repeat that we consider that this reform should be done in accordance with the Armenian Constitution and these reform efforts should be done in accordance with the international standards,” the diplomat said.

“When we say independent judiciary, we mean truly independent judiciary, which is protected from the unnecessary and unduly influence from other branches of power. The idea of separate branches of power, three branches of power, is very dear to the European Union. And for us the independence of judiciary is one of the foundations of a credible and effective judicial system,” Świtalski said, adding he has no reasons to worry that there is any intention to compromise the independence of judiciary in Armenia.