The EU Advisory Group convened to its thirteenth Board Meeting on 12 July 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by Artur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of the National Security Council and Ambassador Traian Hristea, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia.
The EU Advisory Group presented its Semi-annual Report (January-June 2013), along with a Needs Assessment Report and a Work plan for the remainder of the year. The Board reviewed the Advisory Group’s different activities from January to June and noted progress on national reforms.
The Board also gave an overall positive assessment of the Advisory Group’s work so far in 2013. “With this project, we are pursuing a result-based approach to the successful implementation of Armenian reforms, encouraging collective action,” said the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea. “The EU Advisory Group offers strategic policy advice based on the European Union’s expertise and experience,” he added.
The Advisory Group reported on the achievements and results attained during the first half of 2013. Support to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) negotiations continued.
This involved several rounds of discussions between the European Union and Armenia. As a result, the conclusion of the Chapter on Technical Barriers to Trade now appears imminent. The
Semi-annual Report highlights, among other topics, the Advisory Group’s support in drafting market surveillance legislation and its contribution towards the introduction of criminal liability for legal entities in the country’s new Criminal Code.
The Board noted the Group’s consistent policy advice in the areas of Food Safety legislation, Human Rights Protection, and the national Law on Anti-discrimination.
The Board received an update on the Needs Assessment Report for 2013, which spells out the most critical issues and response option before the Government and partner agencies. The Board also endorsed the Advisory Group’s Work plan for the next six months.
High-ranking officials from the President’s Office, the Government and the National Assembly, Embassies of EU Member States and international organizations, including UNDP, attended the meeting.
