Standing Committee on European Integration (Armenia)

Summary

The Standing Committee on European Integration (Armenian: Եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողով, romanizedYevropakan integrman harts’eri mshtakan handznazhoghov) is a specialized committee of the parliament of Armenia, which oversees the management of relations between Armenia and the European Union, and supports the gradual European integration of the country.[1][2]

Standing Committee on European Integration
Եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողով
Formation2007
TypeGovernment committee
PurposeEuropean integration of Armenia
HeadquartersYerevan
Region served
Armenia
MethodPublic policy
Chairman
Arman Yeghoyan
Parent organization
National Assembly of Armenia
Websitewww.parliament.am/committees

History edit

 
Alternate logo

The Standing Committee on European Integration, established in 2007, is one of eleven standing committees of the National Assembly of Armenia.[3] Members serving on the committee are elected members of parliament, representing most political parties with representation in parliament.[4] However, leaders and representatives from extra-parliamentary political parties often participate in meetings as observers or regular attendees.[5] The committee meets monthly and provides suggestions, updates, and reports to the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.

Several political parties have been accredited observer status to the committee. The pro-European Republic Party and the European Party of Armenia participate on the committee as observers.[6] On 7 February 2022, Tigran Khzmalyan, the Chairman of the European Party of Armenia stated that, "We will try to politicize your work, as this committee is key for us. We are convinced that the European integration committee is the axis where security, economic development, and many other issues should be resolved."[7]

Objectives edit

The primary objectives of the committee is to further develop Armenia–European Union relations, ensure the implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, and continue the gradual harmonization of Armenian laws and regulations to the legal acts of the EU acquis.[1][8]

On 14 November 2023, Chairman of the committee Arman Yeghoyan stated that "Armenia is in the process of European integration since 1991" and that "Armenia may plan to join the European Union in the future" during a press conference.[9]

Activities edit

 
Members of the committee and delegates from the Italian and Greek parliaments gather for the signing of a trilateral cooperation agreement, 2 December 2021.

On 18 July 2014, committee members held a joint conference with the EU Advisory Group to the Republic of Armenia. The event was aimed at identifying how the Standing Committee could improve its role in the EU integration process.[10]

On 1 April 2019, committee members participated in an Eastern Partnership meeting in Romania. Delegates from Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova participated in discussions regarding issues facing Europe and relations of Eastern Partnership members with the EU. Arman Yeghoyan stated, "I emphasized that Armenia is doing the reforms started, most of which coincide with the agenda that the EU had with us, not to get encouragement from the EU, but based on the demands of our citizens. This is our vision, and the EU can be a part of those reforms, which, I believe, will also have a spreading effect in the countries of the Eastern Partnership."[11]

On 29 December 2020, committee members met with former EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin. The participants of the meeting discussed a wide range of issues, in particular, the prospects of deepening Armenia–EU cooperation.[12]

On 24 October 2021, Arman Yeghoyan held a meeting with members of the Italian senate. The sides discussed further developing inter-parliamentary ties and economic activities between Italy, the EU, and Armenia.[13][14][15]

In January 2022, members of the Greek Parliament held meetings with the committee and discussed increasing cooperation in various sectors.[16][17]

In February 2022, the committee ratified Armenia's membership in Horizon Europe.

On 1 November 2022, members of the committee held a meeting with members of the European Parliament in Yerevan. A wide range of issues were discussed including expanding Armenia–European Union relations and maintaining stability in the Caucasus region.[18]

On 23 February 2023, Arman Yeghoyan held a meeting with the Deputy of the European Parliament, François Alfons. Alfons stated, "The European Parliament is interested in the activities of the Standing Committee on European Integration" and emphasized the work done by the latter with various EU bodies. The possibility of joint programs in different formats were discussed. It was also emphasized that the role and importance of the Standing Committee on European Integration is increasing daily.[19]

On 9 March 2023, the 3rd session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee was held in Brussels. Arman Yeghoyan noted significant results following the meeting, most notably, a statement was passed by the European Parliament committee. The statement called for increasing cooperation between the European Parliament and the National Assembly of Armenia, supported peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the border crisis and called on Azerbaijani troops to withdraw from occupied Armenian territory, called on Azerbaijan to end the blockade of Artsakh, and called on the European Council to initiate visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia to allow Armenian citizens visa-free access to the EU's Schengen Area.[20]

On 17 March 2023, Armenian deputy foreign minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan stated that relations between Armenia and EU member states have been increasing over the past year and are more dynamic. The minister applauded the efforts of the European Union Mission in Armenia and stated that the EU has significantly contributed to the security and stabilization of the South Caucasus, during a meeting of the Standing Committee.[21]

On 29 March 2023, Arman Yeghoyan and the president of the Armenian national assembly Alen Simonyan held a meeting with Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the Bundestag's EU affairs committee in Berlin. Simonyan stated, "adherence to European values, development of partnership with European Union countries was and continues to be one of the important directions of foreign policy for Armenia."[22] The German partners, in return, encouraged Armenia to develop policies which promote further European integration.

On 20 June 2023, members of the standing committee met with Dutch politician Bert-Jan Ruissen in Yerevan. The committee stated, "Relations between Armenia and the European Union are multi-layered, the range of cooperation is impressive. It includes active political dialogue, implementation of initiatives arising from economic and investment programs. The EU continues to be the primary partner supporting the reform agenda implemented by the Armenian government" and "we have managed to ensure the positive dynamics of the Armenia-EU high-level political dialogue, expand the legal treaty field by signing a number of agreements in aviation, migration and other fields."[23]

On 20 November 2023, standing committee members held a meeting with Maka Bochorishvili, the Chairman of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament. The sides discussed Armenia's and Georgia's cooperation within European structures.[24]

On 26 November 2023, Arman Yeghoyan participated in the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs held in Madrid, Spain.[25]

Leadership edit

The committee Chairman is Arman Yeghoyan.[26] Mary Galstyan acts as the Deputy Chair.[27] Both are members of the ruling Civil Contract party. There are a total of 10 members of parliament who sit on the committee.[28]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Assembly of Armenia | Official Web Site | parliament.am". www.parliament.am.
  2. ^ "ՀՀ ԱԳ նախարարի «Հայաստանի Հանրապետության կառավարության ծրագրի 2020թ. կատարման ընթացքի և արդյունքների մասին» զեկույցն ԱԺ եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նիստին". www.mfa.am.
  3. ^ "ԱԺ եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նախագահի պաշտոնում առաջադրվել է Արման Եղոյանի թեկնածությունը". www.1lurer.am.
  4. ^ "The chairmen of the standing committees of the National Assembly are known".
  5. ^ "Արտախորհրդարանական ուժերը ներկա են եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական..." A1Plus.
  6. ^ "Two extra-parliamentary forces have expressed readiness to be involved in the work of the European Integration Commission of the National Assembly". infocom.am.
  7. ^ "Արտախորհրդարանական երկու ուժ պատրաստակամություն է հայտնել ներգրավվել ԱԺհանձնաժողովի աշխատանքներին". armenpress.am.
  8. ^ "National Assembly of Armenia | Official Web Site | parliament.am". parliament.am.
  9. ^ "Maybe RA will apply for EU candidacy in the future. Arman Yegoyan". factor.am.
  10. ^ LLC, Helix Consulting. "Vision and perspectives for future work of Standing Committee on European Integration". www.panorama.am.
  11. ^ "Armenia is making the reforms not to get encouragement from the EU, but based on the demands of our citizens. Arman Yeghoyan". aysor.am.
  12. ^ "ԱԺ Եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի անդամները հանդիպել են ԵՄ դեսպանին". news.am.
  13. ^ "COVID-19-ի հաղթահարման համար ԵՄ-ն ու Հայաստանը ձեռք ձեռքի տված են պայքարում | Ֆակտոր տեղեկատվական կենտրոն".
  14. ^ "Քննարկվել են Իտալիայի եւ Եվրոպական միության հետ հարաբերությունների հետագա զարգացման հեռանկարները | Առավոտ - Լուրեր Հայաստանից".
  15. ^ "ՀՀ Ազգային ժողովի եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նախագահը Եվրոպական միության Թվինինգ ծրագրի շրջանակներում Հռոմ կատարած այցի ընթացքում հանդիպումներ է ունեցել Իտալիայի խորհրդարանի իր գործընկերների հետ. ՖՈՏՈՌԵՊՈՐՏԱԺ". Լուրեր Հայաստանից | SHAMSHYAN.com - (շարժական տարբերակ).
  16. ^ "National Assembly of Armenia | Official Web Site | parliament.am". parliament.am.
  17. ^ "National Assembly of Armenia | Official Web Site | parliament.am". parliament.am.
  18. ^ "The deputies of the European Parliament met with the deputies of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly". hetq.
  19. ^ "The role of the Standing Committee on European Integration issues is increasing day by day. members of the committee met with the member of the European Parliament". parliament.am.
  20. ^ "The EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee calls on Azerbaijan to immediately withdraw from all territories of Armenia". factor.am.
  21. ^ "Armenia deputy FM lauds EU monitoring mission role". news.am.
  22. ^ "The dynamic development of Armenian-German cooperation has a primary place in Armenia's foreign policy today. Alain Simonyan". parliament.am.
  23. ^ "RA-EU relations are multi-layered. Hakob Arshakyan received the Dutch member of the European Parliament". armenpress.am.
  24. ^ "Ruben Rubinyan received the Chairman of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament". hetq.am.
  25. ^ "Arman Yeghoyan, the chairman of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly, will be sent to Madrid". armlur.am.
  26. ^ "ԱԺ եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նախագահը նշել է, թե ով կգլխավորի կառավարությունը Փաշինյանի հրաժարականից հետո". arka.am.
  27. ^ "Մերի Գալստյանն ընտրվել է ԱԺ եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նախագահի տեղակալ | Լրագիր".
  28. ^ "Մերի Գալստյանն ընտրվել է ԱԺ եվրոպական ինտեգրման հարցերի մշտական հանձնաժողովի նախագահի տեղակալ". armenpress.am.

External links edit

  • Standing Committee on European Integration Official website
  • Standing Committee on European Integration on Facebook