YEREVAN. – The year 2015 was a year of intensive cooperation with the European Union (EU), and the logical outcome of this process was the official start—on December 7 in Brussels—of negotiations on a new Armenia-EU agreement.

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan on Wednesday stated the abovementioned at his talk with the EU member states’ ambassadors and embassy representatives who are accredited in Armenia. 

Press Office of the Government of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that Abrahamyan said the Armenian authorities underscore the development of the country’s continued cooperation with EU.

In his words, first and foremost, Armenia-EU cooperation is based on a shared system of values, and Armenia is committed to deepening and strengthening this collaboration.

The Armenian PM also expressed the hope that the two parties will agree on a new framework agreement by the end of 2016.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, for his part, highly assessed their productive cooperation with the Armenian government.

As per the EU ambassador, the current year was full in terms of further development and deepening of EU-Armenia relations. 

Świtalski noted that agreements have already been reached regarding cooperation in several domains, and on some political and economic matters. 

The EU official also expressed confidence that the coming year likewise will stand out in terms of effective development and deepening of EU-Armenia relations.

Subsequently, the interlocutors conferred on Armenia-EU relations and exchanged respective views.