YEREVAN. – Legal framework is a priority area for the assistance of the European Union to Armenia, Dirk Lorenz, Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Speaking at the roundtable organized by the Ombudsman of Armenia to mark the International Human Rights Day, he told that the EU has provided a significant assistance to Ombudsman’s office.

On the whole, the economic relations between Armenia and the EU remain sound: the country is one of the beneficiaries of the GSP+ system of trade preferences. It allows about 2/3 of product categories to enter the EU market, wholly or partially exempt from customs duties. The EU welcomes the efforts of Armenia to build up a sustainable quality framework, for the domestic production to be eligible to enter the European Union.

He reminded that the EU has pledged to allocate 140-170 mln euro of assistance to Armenia for 2014-17. The priorities for assistance are the judiciary system, public administration and private sector development.

“Here, no progress can be made without an independent judiciary system and strong competition rules. A lot has been achieved but we shouldn’t be shy to say there is room for improvement”, he told.

Another area of cooperation is border management between Armenia and Georgia. Seamless procedures of movement of goods and people through these two neighboring countries significantly increase opportunities for business to the benefit of both countries, Lorenz added.