On September 19 a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on European Integration was held, having on the agenda two issues: implementation process of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan and the National Programme for the implentation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement – harmonization of the legislation. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Avet Adonts. He noted that the European integration is one of main directions of the committee activity, so a necessity arose to convene a sitting with such agenda.

Mr. Armen Baibourtian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Minister reported on the first issue of the agenda. First of all, he highly appreciated the establishment of the Committee, noting that it is based not only on the agenda, working necessity, but it is also a clear political message. Mr. Baibourtian introduced the process of the joint work. It was noted in 1996 Armenia signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 1999  for 10-year term. In 2004 Armenia became member of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The term for the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will expire in 2009, and the term for the Joint Action Plan expires in 2011. In 2009 a new agreement, more comprehensive, with new provisions, will be signed. If Armenia implements the Plan in the best way, then a new perspective will be open for us to sign a more comprehensive agreement and closely approach the European Union. He noted that the European Union from the beginning envisaged preferences within the frameworks of the Plan, which were included in the policy. In the Action Plan of the Eastern Europe, as well as Armenia the political plane is of priority: democracy, enforcement of legal state, strengthening of human rights institutes, etc. He said that the general assessment of the works of this year would be given in December. Mr. Baibourtian highlighted the fact that Armenia joined the statements of the European Union general security and foreign policy. This is not only a possibility to get closer to the European Union, but it is an experience of involving in the works of that structure – in the spheres of foreign and security policy.

Mr. Tigran Davtyan, Director of the Armenian Development Agency CJSC, referred to the details of the Plan. He said that the ENP Action Plan envisages comprehensive programmes, which relates to political, economic, social and educational spheres. He noted that the arrangements of 2007 would be mainly carried out with the existing financial resources, state budget and other funds and he expressed a hope that the arrangements of programmes in 2008 would be agreed and fulfilled till the beginning of the next year, and in difference with the arrangements of 2007, they would be fulfilled in 2008 not only with the inner resources, but also with the additional technical and financial resources, which is envisioned to allocate to Armenia by the European Committee. On September 24 the sitting of Armenia-European Union Cooperation Committee, during which for the first time the expanded delegation of the European Committee would be presented the implementation of the programme of the European Neighbourhood Action Plan.

Davit Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, touched upon the financial part of the programme. He noted that that there are several instruments of financial support: direct budget support, advisory support and inter-bordering cooperation.

Mr. Tigran Jrbashyan, Director of the Armenian-European Policy and Legal Active Centre/AEPLAC, gave a speech too at the meeting.

At the meeting the speakers answered the journalists’ questions.