Armenia needs to recruit six long-term EU advisors; National Security Council Secretary
12.07.2013,
18:44
YEREVAN, July 12. / ARKA /. Armenia needs to recruit six long-term advisors from EU to work on reforms in a number of priority areas, Arthur Baghdasarian, the Secretary of National Security Council of Armenia, who co-chaired the EU Advisory Group 13th Board meeting in Yerevan, said today.
YEREVAN, July 12. / ARKA /. Armenia needs to recruit six long-term advisors from EU to work on reforms in a number of priority areas, Arthur Baghdasarian, the Secretary of National Security Council of Armenia, who co-chaired the EU Advisory Group 13th Board meeting in Yerevan, said today.
"Today we have about a dozen European experts working in our country. I respect their important work, but it is in our interest to make it more targeted, and not to disperse resources," he said.
In turn, deputy economy minister Garegin Melkonian identified six priority areas which need to be reformed in the first place. According to him, they are trade, phytosanitary control, tax and customs policy, civic society development and human rights, institutional development, in particular of standardization and certification institutions as well as the legal sphere.
The EU Advisory Group has been working in Armenia since April 1, 2011 providing advice on the implementation of the Action Plan for the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as on strengthening of democratic and economic structures.
The EU Advisory Group presented today 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 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. -0-
"Today we have about a dozen European experts working in our country. I respect their important work, but it is in our interest to make it more targeted, and not to disperse resources," he said.
In turn, deputy economy minister Garegin Melkonian identified six priority areas which need to be reformed in the first place. According to him, they are trade, phytosanitary control, tax and customs policy, civic society development and human rights, institutional development, in particular of standardization and certification institutions as well as the legal sphere.
The EU Advisory Group has been working in Armenia since April 1, 2011 providing advice on the implementation of the Action Plan for the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as on strengthening of democratic and economic structures.
The EU Advisory Group presented today 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 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. -0-
