The European Unionթ§Չ-Չ§s foreign ministers rubber-stamped, on 10 May, the mandate for the European Commission to launch talks with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia on association agreements. թ§Չ-ժI look forward to the launch of negotiations on these ambitious and comprehensive agreements,թ§Չ-Թ said Catherine Ashton, the Union’s foreign affairs chief in a statement following the decision. թ§Չ-ժThis is a clear sign of our strong commitment to further deepen the relationship between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus on the basis of shared values and principles, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights,թ§Չ-Թ she added.
Association agreements are part of the Eastern Partnership project, launched by the EU a year ago in Prague with the aim of enhancing relations with the six former Soviet republics (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine). Apart from political relations, they cover trade aspects aiming at establishing a ‘deep free trade area’ between the EU and the participating countries.
According to EU sources, the Commission intends to finalize negotiations on the political part of the agreements within two years. Talks on the more complex trade-related issues might last over three years, according to an EU official. The Commission intends to treat the three South Caucasus countries as թ§Չ-ժa packageթ§Չ-Թ and carry out talks with them simultaneously. However, the outcome of the negotiations will be assessed individually, specifies the EU source.
To date, the Union has launched negotiations on association agreements within the framework of the Eastern Partnership with Ukraine and Moldova.
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