Armenia have been recommended to clearly define either the EU or the Eurasian Union

Visegrád Group Experience of European Integration for the South Caucasus States

Yerevan—The National Citizen’s Initiative (NCI) representatives Hovsep Khurshudyan and Hrayr Manukyan yesterday presented NCI report, entitled “The Results of Armenia’s Integration with the EU in the Framework of the Eastern Partnership: 2010-2012,” that was developed in collaboration with the Caucasus Economic and Social Research Council through the support of the International Visegrad Fund. The event was held at NCI headquarters.

In his intervention, Khurshudyan maintained that there is a wide consensus on the European integration in Armenia that boosts its progression. According to him, not only the government and opposition forces, but also civil society representatives are engaged in the process. As far as cooperation of the EU and Armenian parliamentarians is concerned, the major platform is Euronest, while the key path of partnership between civil society organizations of the EU and Armenia is the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Forum (CSF).

In his turn, Manukyan reflected on the fundamental requirements that are set by the EU as the basis of the negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement between the EU and Armenia. In this regard, the speaker particularly focused on the clear-cut remarks made by high-level European officials that are related to the incompatibility of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Customs Union to the prospect of the privileged partnership with the EU. Armenia must immediately undertake a comprehensive set of reforms as well aimed at meeting other key standards. In this respect, consideration of the experience of the Visegrád Group—Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary—will be of paramount importance. In addition, Armenia must also conduct an election that will be free and fair, and in full compliance with international standards.