New financing agreements for reforms in Armenia
"I believe we are preparing the ground for an Armenia which is a state with more citizen-friendly institutions, an attractive investment destination and better conditions for those businesses which want to take advantage of new market opportunities,” Commissioner Füle said after signing the documents.Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, and Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, signed two new financing agreements between the European Union and Armenia in Yerevan on Thursday. Totalling €43 million, the two agreements focus on institution building and will support the negotiations and implementation of the future EU-Armenia bilateral agreements: the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa Facilitation/Readmission Agreement.
EU bilateral assistance to Armenia under the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument is €157 million for 2011-2013, double the amount for the previous period. On top of that, an additional € 15 million have recently been allocated under the More for More principle. “The more reforms Armenia carries out the more the EU will be able to support it. Already today, EU support for Armenia has reached unprecedented levels" Commissioner Füle stated referring to the financial allocation so far.
Through the financing agreements signed in Yerevan on Thursday, we will support Armenia’s Sustainable Development Programme, focusing on several sector specific strategies such as Customs Administration, Quality infrastructure, Food Safety and e-governance. The expected results should have a direct bearing on the key milestones set for the bilateral co-operation under the Eastern Partnership:
-Introduction of biometric passports will help Armenia to meet a key condition of visa liberalization;
-improved data protection will open the way to deepened co-operation in justice, freedom and security;
-improvements in the legal framework for public procurement will help Armenia along the road to new opportunities for tendering for public contracts on European Union markets.
More information : Press release 
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