The first stage of the work of the EU Advisory Group to Armenia is over. This format of cooperation with the EU has been approved for the first time. It will also be applied in Moldova, Georgia and other countries.

At a news conference on July 14, Secretary of the EU National Security Council Artur Baghdasaryan stated that the Armenia-EU political cooperation implies reforms in over 190 fields. The 18-member advisory group greatly contributed to reforms in various areas of Armenia’s life.

Summing up the results of the Group’s one-year activities in Armenia, Artur Baghdasaryan presented the three main fields.

“We have managed to raise the level of Armenia-EU cooperation. We founded a Diplomatic Academy in Armenia, which has launched its activities. This is one of the results of the EU Advisory Group’s activities,” Baghdasaryan said. Serious steps have been made to facilitate the procedure of obtaining visas to the EU member-states, and a visa-free regime is in effect with nine of the EU member-states.

“The major achievement of this cooperation is the preparations for Armenia’s associate membership in the EU, which will enable us to establish high-level cooperation,” Baghdasaryan said.

The second area of cooperation is justice, security and freedoms. With the EU Advisory Group’s assistance, a new committee on justice, security and freedoms was formed and held its maiden sitting on July 6. “This means that Armenia will continue serious work to eradicate corruption and improve the legal system,” Baghdasaryan said.

The national human rights protection program will be drafted in Armenia this year. The EU Advisory Group is involved in the work.

The third area is the establishment of a free trade regime with the EU, which implies large-scale work. The EU Advisory Group helped serious customs reforms as well. Customs procedures will be simplified. Serious work on a free trade agreement is under way as well.

Rolf Boehnke, Team Leader of the EU Advisory Group, pointed out the program will continue this September. The Group’s work is focused on improving economic development management.

An agreement on spending EU advisors to Armenia as reached during RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Brussels in November 2008.