Armenia-EU negotiations have nothing to do with membership candidacy opportunities

Armenia-European Union negotiations have nothing to do with the possibilities of membership candidacy, Peter Stano, the spokesperson of European Union (EU) foreign relations, said in an interview with Azatutyan. "We are now negotiating the agenda of this partnership to see how far our partners want to go, how far we are willing to go and align our goals," he noted.

An excerpt from the interview is presented below, the full version with video later

"Azatutyun" - about the EU-Armenia partnership agenda. can you clarify if this is a draft new agreement and if it is a step forward towards membership candidacy? Will it replace CEPA (Armenia-European Union Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement) or will it just be an additional part of it?

Peter Stano - The EU-Armenia partnership agenda is actually an update that was agreed with Armenia in February. At that time, we agreed that we would be more ambitious and renew the existing agreement. We have already started negotiating the EU-Armenia partnership agenda, and this is exactly the update that will expand EU-Armenia cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, because one of the EU's principles for developing relations with partners is to respond to the partner's ambitions. If we see, as in the case of Armenia, that there is a willingness to do more in more areas, to cooperate more deeply and intensively, we respond to it.

So now we're negotiating an agenda for this partnership to see how far our partners are willing to go, how far we're willing to go, and align our goals.

And it is very important, because this shows that we are getting closer, that we want to do more together, based on European principles and values, of course, and based on political reforms, economic reforms and mutual cooperation.

"Azatutyun" - But, can this new partnership agenda be considered a step forward to Armenia's membership candidacy?

Peter Stano - This doesn't really have anything to do with the potential membership nomination process. The negotiations on the EU-Armenia partnership agenda reflect the mutual desire and will of both sides to do more together, but based on the current relationship. And the current relationship is defined by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.