EU lays out priorities in relations with Armenia

The European Union (EU) would focus on five many priorities in its relations with Armenia in the coming months, said the head of the EU delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski on Tuesday.

In a meeting with the press, he said among those the most significant issue was that of pertaining to the electoral process in Armenia.

"The European Union has provided serious financial support to Armenia for the national elections on April 2," said Switalski, adding that the EU had given Armenia 7 million Euros for the organizations of parliamentary elections last May.

According to Ambassador Switalski, the EU is also interested in continuing talks on the improvement of the business environment in Armenia, for the purpose of which they intend to have a series of meetings with the government, business organizations as well as the European Business Alliance.

Next top priority for the EU is the fight against corruption for which an allocation of 15 million Euros has been made to the Armenian government.

The EU-Armenia agenda also includes the implementation of the agreement related to the budgetary support of the protection of human rights. The last priority according to Switalski had to with the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary.

The European Union is planning to provide a fiscal support of 10 million Euros for the implementation of reforms in this area. A relevant agreement on this direction was signed with Armenia earlier. Endite