Armenia and the European Union
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Armenia and the European Union have had a varied relationship over the years. Armenia, a largely Christian nation, has extensive cultural and historical connections with Europe, despite being geographically located in Western Asia.
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[edit] Background
The first nation to adopt Christianity in the year 301, Armenia has been part of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Russian Empires as well as the Soviet Union. Through the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, it was also a key ally of the European Crusaders. Armenia maintains good relations with all EU member states, especially France and Greece.
[edit] Armenia-EU relations
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) (signed in 1996 and in force since 1999) serves as the legal framework for EU-Armenia bilateral relations. Since 2004, Armenia and the other South Caucasus states have been part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, encouraging closer ties between Armenia and the EU. An ENP Action Plan for Armenia was published on March 2, 2005, "highlighting areas in which bilateral cooperation could feasibly and valuably be strengthened." The plan sets "jointly defined priorities in selected areas for the next five years." In November 2005, formal consultations on the Action Plan were opened in Yerevan and as of 2007 are ongoing.[1]
[edit] Opinions
There is a lot of interest in Armenia eventually joining the European Union, especially among several prominent Armenian politicians[2] and the general public in Armenia.[3] However, the current president, Robert Kocharyan, has said he will keep Armenia tied to Russia and the CSTO, remaining partners, not members of the EU and NATO.[4]
Several Armenian officials have expressed the desire for their country to eventually join the European Union. Some even predict that it will make an official bid for membership in a few years.[5]
According to Artur Baghdasarian, head of the Rule of Law party and former speaker of parliament, Armenian membership in the European Union "should be one of the key priorities" of the country's "present and future foreign policy." Baghdasarian believes that "EU membership will open new avenues for Armenia to move to a new geopolitical milieu as well as a new economic environment." He also added that it "will enable Armenia to have access to a completely new security system."[2] EU membership is on the agenda of many political parties in Armenia including the pro-Western Heritage party.[6]
Public opinion in Armenia suggests that membership would be welcomed, with 64% out of a sample of 2,000 being in favour and only 11.8% being against.[3]Another poll conducted in the Armenian capital Yerevan suggested that "as many as 72% of city residents believe, with varying degrees of conviction, that their country's future lies with the EU rather than the Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)."[3] Still, more than two-thirds of the country's population believes that Armenia will not be ready to join the EU until at least 2015.[3] A 2007 opinion poll indicated an increase in Armenian EU interest with 80% of the Armenian public favoring eventual membership.[7]
[edit] Potential issues
Armenia is still in conflict over the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh with neighbouring Azerbaijan, which owns the territory de jure. Since 1994, a ceasefire has been in place, but tensions remain very high. Although the country's economy had one of the world's fastest growth rates in the past few years, this comes off a low base and many years of near-continuous recession.[8] The Metsamor nuclear power plant, which is situated some 40km west of Yerevan, is built on top of an active seismic zone and is a matter of negotiation between Armenia and the EU. Armenia has now approved a plan to shut down the plant, costing up to $280 million, and will build a new 1,000-megawatt plant for energy.[9]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Armenia and the EU
- ^ a b "Interview with RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan", ArmInfo News Agency, 2005-09-26. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ a b c d Anna Saghabalian. "Poll Finds Strong Support For Armenian Entry Into EU", Radio Free Europe, 2005-01-07. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ "Armenia Not to Join NATO, EU: President", ChinaView, 2006-04-24. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ "Armenia: Armenia's Chances of EU Membership Assessed", IPR Strategic Business Information Database, July 2003. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ Heritage Party Proclamation
- ^ Armenia Says Not Aiming For NATO, EU Membership
- ^ Atom Markarian. "IMF Heaps More Praise On Armenia", ArmeniaLiberty, Radio Free Europe, 2006-06-19. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jM97WlLt3KY8SWBv6-WEafZz2J0AD8T7KHTO0
[edit] See also
- Enlargement of the European Union
- Foreign relations of the European Union
- Georgia and the European Union
- Ukraine and the European Union
[edit] External links
- European Movement Armenia
- InsideEurope.org
- AEPLAC: Armenian-European Policy And Legal Advice Centre
- The European Commission's Delegation to Armenia
es:Armenia y la Unión Europea pt:Armênia e a União Européia
