EU starts drafting new version of cooperation with Armenia

The European Union (EU) has offered Armenia a new version of agreement, which will bind the parties to a lesser extent than an association agreement, said Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, the country now chairing the EU.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 28, 2013, at the summit of the "Eastern Partnership" in Vilnius, the EU planned to sign an association agreement with Armenia, but after Serzh Sargsyan expressed his intention to join the Customs Union, the association with the EU was not signed. On April 11, 2015, the EU spokesman once again announced the start of negotiations on signing an agreement with Armenia.

According to Minister Asselborn, the EU is drafting a new agreement with Armenia, which will be a level lower than the association agreement.

"We understand that the association agreement is impossible; everybody is ready to work on a lighter version, less persistent and fundamental... We made an offer to Armenia, Armenia responded positively," the RIA "Novosti" quotes the words of the European diplomat on September 4.

He added that they do not plan to put a point about customs privileges into the new agreement. Other details of possible cooperation are not specified yet, the "Govorit Moskva" (Moscow Speaking) reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.