Peter Stano says Armenia’s negotiations with the EU have nothing to do with candidacy for membership

The negotiations between Armenia and the European Union have nothing to do with Armenia’s candidacy for EU membership. This is what Peter Stano, chief spokesman for the European Commission’s foreign and security policy, said in an interview with the Armenian Service of Radio Free Europe.

The EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda is actually an update of what was agreed with Armenia in February this year. At that time, the parties agreed to be more ambitious and renew the existing agreement. They have already started negotiations on the EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda, and this is exactly the update that will expand EU-Armenia cooperation in all areas of common interest, because one of the principles of the EU development and partnership is to respond to the ambitions of its partners. Stano said that if the EU sees that Armenia is willing to do more in more areas, to cooperate more deeply and more deeply, the EU will respond to it.

So now they are negotiating the agenda for this partnership to see how far the EU partners are willing to go, how far they are willing to go and in line with the EU’s objectives, he added.

This is very important because it shows that the two sides are getting closer and they want to do more together based on European principles and values, based on political reform, economic reform and mutual cooperation, Stano said.

This new partnership agenda is actually unrelated to Armenia’s potential candidacy process for membership. The negotiations on the EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda reflect the desire and willingness of both parties to work together – but based on existing relations. The existing relations are defined by the Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and Armenia, concluded the Chief Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission.