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With the 2024 programme, we expect to receive 17.9 million euros in grant funds from the European Union (EU). This was stated by the Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan at the joint sitting of the NA Standing Committees on European Integration and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs held on November 3, presenting the draft on the State Budget for 2024 to the parliamentarians.

According to the Minister, the grant is provided in order to spend in three main directions.

“If we talk about credit funds and programmes, the loans for 2024 are 21 billion drams, out of which 153 million are intended for current expenses, 26 million - for capital expenditures. The main part is implemented through the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, these are programmes aimed at improving the irrigation system, managing solid waste, improving the road network and other directions. We also have a programme implemented by the State Revenue Committee (SRC), it refers to the Meghri Border Checkpoint loan programme implemented with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the total loan amount is 2 billion 290 million drams. All the credit programmes have a preparatory phase. The total grant amount is 9 billion 780 million drams,” the Minister of Finance stated.

The Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on European Integration Meri Galstyan asked the Minister what stage the implementation of the project on solid waste in Yerevan is at.

“That Agreement was signed a long time ago, why are there problems with its implementation?” the parliamentarian asked.

In response to the question, Vahe Hovhannisyan said that the Agreement was signed in 2015 and there were problems with its implementation from the beginning.

“This is a very tough programme. The Agreement was signed a long time ago, but has 0 performance. An update of the programme components has now taken place. We received guarantees from those in charge that it will be implemented in 2024. In the coming days, we will address the EBRD with a letter on that issue,” the Minister noted.

The member of the Standing Committee on European Integration Sona Ghazaryan also inquired about what funds have been allocated in the state budget for the implementation of the Crossroads of Peace project.

“There are issues that are not so correct to reflect in the budget, if we have not reached the level of proper preparation. When there are concrete agreements concerning the Crossroads of Peace project, it will be reflected in our budget,” the Minister said in response to the question.

Next, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paruyr Hovhannisyan made a report. Before touching upon the budget expenses, the Deputy Minister mentioned the advances in the main directions of partnership with the EU, these are: The activation of the political dialogue, addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by the aggression unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh, sectoral cooperation with the EU and EU structures and its deepening, full implementation of obligations created by legal documents.

“During 2024, meetings of the statutory bodies created by the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement are planned. It is the meeting of the highest statutory body of the RA-EU. It will be held in Brussels in January or February, followed by the meeting of the Partnership Committee, which will be held in Yerevan in the first half of the year. In 2024, the regular meeting of the RA-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee and the meetings of the Standing Committees and Bureau of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly will also take place. Within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, a number of events are planned, meetings of senior officials, relevant platforms and ministerial committees, the holding of a summit is also not excluded,” the Deputy Minister said, noting that progress has been made in that regard: An Agreement on the immunities and privileges of the EU Observation Mission in the RA will be signed. In this context, the Deputy Minister mentioned that the EU continues to be the main partner of our country in the context of the RA reforms.

In the context of cooperation with the EU, the Committee Chair Arman Yeghoyan inquired from the Deputy Minster whether there are political integration agendas, which should also be preceded by appropriate financial support programmes. In response to the question, Paruyr Hovhannisyan informed that the Prime Minister partially answered the question in his speech at the COE meeting.

“The approach of the RA has always been that the RA will move towards the EU as much as the EU is ready to provide additional opportunities to our country. Politically, cooperation has deepened. Expanding and strengthening the mandate of the EU observation mission is also on our agenda. There are positive responses from the structure and the member countries. The number of high-ranking visits is also unprecedented, other visits are also planned. From the political viewpoint, our cooperation is increasing at a significant rate,” Paruyr Hovhannisyan said.

“Is there any information on whether it is possible for Nikol Pashinyan- Charles Michel -Ilham Aliyev to meet before the end of the year?” Sona Ghazaryan asked.

“Both the EU and other directions continue to work for Armenia and Azerbaijan to return to the negotiation stage. There are calls from various organizations, regional and non-regional countries, to move the processes to the negotiation stage and finish it,” the Deputy Minister said.

The parliamentarian Armen Gevorgyan stated in his turn that the EU is deepening its cooperation with Azerbaijan, as it has clear interests from that country, and that is why it makes many investments in the above-mentioned country. The deputy inquired from Paruyr Hovhannisyan whether the EU's deepening cooperation with Armenia creates any expectations from Armenia.

In response to Armen Gevorgyan’s question, the Deputy Minister said that the energy sector, democracy, creating a stability zone and other issues are also very sensitive and important for the EU. Therefore, yes, there are expectations from the RA as well.

The Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan presented the topic of the RA and EU trade turnover. According to the Minister, in the 9 months of 2023, it amounted to 2 billion 116 million dollars, which increased by about 40% compared to the same period last year.

“The EU is our second largest trade partner after Russia. The trade turnover with the main economic countries of the EU has also increased,” the Minister of Economy said and added that in 2023, many meetings with the EU partners were held. The Minister singled out the business forums held in France and Germany.

The Head of the Ministry said that the RA is also deepening economic relations with China and the USA. The aim is to make the foreign economic relations of our country more diverse.

The deputies asked the Minister questions related to the Association Agreement, trade turnover and other topics.