The Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian had a meeting today with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels.  

Following the meeting, Ms Mogherini addressed the negotiating sides, noting that the EU and Armenia today open negotiations on a new framework for the deepening of thei bilateral relations.

“This will allow us to turn the page on the uncertainties created back in 2013. The work done by Armenia and the EU negotiators in the past, during more than three years of hard negotiations, will not be lost. That will be our common ground: we will not start from zero, our negotiations will work on what was built already. We have identified a potential ambitious scope for our future cooperation,” she said.   

According to Mogherini, the future Agreement will replace the current outdated Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and will reset the relations between the countries within the wider framework of the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership.

“Our shared common values and strong commitment to democracy, human rights, rule of law will be at the basis of the new agreement. These will create favourable conditions for stronger cooperation in sectors such as energy, transport, and environment; for new opportunities for both sides' trade and investment; and also for increased mobility to the benefit of our citizens, both in the European Union and in Armenia,” the High Representative said.

She also noted that they aim to work out a comprehensive framework agreement which will cover political, economic and sectoral cooperation, also taking into account Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

“I hope and I'm sure that the new Agreement will be negotiated relatively rapidly and will enter into force rather soon. The EU negotiating team will do its utmost to properly fulfil the mandate received from the EU Member States and aims to conclude with Yerevan a modern and ambitious future Agreement, and I am looking forward to that,” Mogherini said.