Armenia can be "Pulled Down from Legs"

• 07.17.2015, 11:27
• Anna Karapetyan
•  Europe,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  Armenia,  Analytics

European Neighborhood Policy is being renewed and reformed now. In this process the EU collects ideas, suggestion. In this context last week the European Parliament  adopted a resolution, which reflects the main goals and principles of the reforms and presents the suggestions of the parliamentarians.

In the resolution it is underlined, that the ENP should remain a single policy, but it must be more flexible and adaptable to response the situation in the ground and the ambitions and challenges of the neighbours. Actually, the principle of more differentiation is the basis of the reforms.

This approach can be useful and can open new opportunities for the ENP countries, and Armenia as well,  but its implementation or at least its discussions show some challenges. This became obvious already during the Riga Summit of Eastern Partnership, when it was suggested to classify the EaP countries that has signed the Association Agreement, and the ones that has not. In the EP resolution it is also stressed that the Association Agreements are the most advanced format of the relations with the EU, but it is also mentioned the Uniom should develop sectorial cooperation with non-associated partners as well.

This principle of classification contains a real challenge, as if the main criteria for classification of the EaP countries is Association Agreement - Armenia appears in the same group with Belarus and Azerbaijan.

This approach is a real challenge, as it is not just a question of political correctness or diplomatic ethics, but could cause a measurable damage. To put Armenia in the same row with these countries, means creating a situation, when those two countries are "pulling Armenia’s legs down."

At the same time, such a classification does not encourage Azerbaijan and Belarus to have greater ambitions and does not contribute to their acknowledgment of the existing problems, feeling their problems and does not lead them to take steps towards overcoming them.

If we talk about the target-goals of the EaP since its formation, then it has always been emphasized that the most important factor is the existence of a common value system. Today, however, due to the situation in Belarus and Azerbaijan the existing values in these countries are not comparable in any way with those in Armenia. Therefore, to put these three countries in one basket is not effective.

So, in this stage of ENP reformation, Armenia has an important task not to let such classification and to build such relations with the EU, that will meet the expectations, opportunities and achievements that our country had so far.