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Document 52012IP0128
Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement European Parliament resolution of 18 April 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement (2011/2315(INI))
Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement European Parliament resolution of 18 April 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement (2011/2315(INI))
Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement European Parliament resolution of 18 April 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement (2011/2315(INI))
OJ C 258E, 7.9.2013, p. 44–50
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
7.9.2013 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
CE 258/44 |
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement
P7_TA(2012)0128
European Parliament resolution of 18 April 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement (2011/2315(INI))
2013/C 258 E/04
The European Parliament,
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having regard to the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Armenia on the Association Agreement, |
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having regard to the Council Conclusions of 10 May 2010 on Armenia which adopted the negotiating directives, |
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having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Armenia and the European Union, which entered into force on 1 July 1999, |
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having regard to the Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between the EU and Armenia of 27 October 2011, |
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having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan adopted on 14 November 2006 and the Joint Communication on ‘A new response to a changing Neighbourhood’ of 25 May 2011, |
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having regard to the Joint Declaration issued by the Eastern Partnership Summit held in Prague on 7 May 2009, |
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having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on the Eastern Partnership of 25 October 2010, |
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having regard to the Joint Declaration issued by the Eastern Partnership Summit held in Warsaw on 29-30 September 2011, |
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having regard to the Constituent Act of the EU Neighbourhood East Parliamentary Assembly (Euronest) of 3 May 2011, |
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having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on the South Caucasus of 27 February 2012, |
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having regard to its resolution of 13 March 2008 on Armenia (1), |
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having regard to its resolution of 20 May 2010 on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus (2), |
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having regard to its resolutions of 20 January 2011 on an EU strategy for the Black Sea (3), and of 17 January 2008 on a Black Sea regional policy approach (4), |
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having regard to its resolutions of 7 April 2011 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy - Eastern Dimension (5) and of 14 December 2011 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (6), |
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having regard to Council Decision 2011/518/CFSP of 25 August 2011 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia (7), |
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having regard to the Commission Progress Report on Armenia adopted on 25 May 2011, |
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having regard to the third round of the EU-Armenia Human Rights Dialogue held on 6 December 2011, |
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having regard to the general amnesty adopted by the Armenian Parliament on 26 May 2011 on a proposal from President Sargsyan, |
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having regard to the declaration signed by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 2 November 2008 in Moscow, |
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having regard to the joint declaration signed by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on 23 January 2012 in Sochi, |
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having regard to Rules 90(4) and 48 of its Rules of Procedure, |
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having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A7-0079/2012), |
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whereas the Eastern Partnership provides the political framework for strengthening bilateral relations by means of new Association Agreements, taking into account the specific situation and ambitions of the partner country and the EU’s strategic interest in the stability and democratic development of the region; |
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whereas Association Agreements constitute the appropriate framework for deepening relations, by enhancing political association, socio-economic integration and legal approximation with the EU, and developing cultural relations; |
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whereas, in this respect, the multilateral dimension of the Eastern Partnership is complementary and inseparable from the bilateral one and should develop simultaneously with the ongoing negotiations of Association Agreements in order to pave the way for their full implementation and lay down the basis for genuine regional cooperation as provided for by the principles underlying the European Neighbourhood Policy; |
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whereas Armenia’s active commitment to shared values and principles, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights, is essential to take the process forward and to make the negotiation and subsequent implementation of the Association Agreement a success; |
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whereas the Armenian authorities have repeatedly stated their willingness to adhere to these values and invoked Armenia’s European ambitions; whereas the rhetoric has not always matched reality in terms of the pace of reforms; whereas Armenia’s active participation in multilateral parliamentary cooperation in the framework of Euronest, covering the four thematic platforms of the Eastern Partnership, provides a good example of commitment to European values and principles, the importance of which is acknowledged by a wide public consensus in Armenian society; |
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whereas the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is undermining the stability and development of Armenia and the South Caucasus region; whereas in its Joint Communication on ‘A new response to a changing neighbourhood’ the EU stated its ambition to engage more proactively in conflict resolution in the South Caucasus and to step up its involvement by both supporting the existing negotiation formats and proposing new initiatives; whereas the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus has an important role to play in contributing to a peaceful conflict settlement in the region; |
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whereas the occupation of territories belonging to a third country is a violation of international law and is contrary to the founding principles of the European Neighbourhood Policy, thereby jeopardising the whole Eastern Partnership project; |
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whereas deeply concerning reports exist of illegal activities exercised by Armenian troops on the occupied Azerbaijani territories, namely regular military manoeuvres, renewal of military hardware and personnel and the deepening of defensive echelons; |
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whereas the proper conduct, in accordance with international and European standards, of the forthcoming parliamentary elections due to take place on 6 May 2012 will be of the utmost importance for the development of EU-Armenia relations, and whereas the elections are to be conducted in accordance with the new Electoral Code of Armenia; |
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whereas the negotiations on the EU-Armenia Association Agreement have been progressing at a good pace and providing impetus for internal reform; |
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Addresses the following recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service: they should
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Instructs its President to forward this resolution containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service and Armenia. |
(1) OJ C 66 E, 20.3.2009, p. 67.
(2) OJ C 161 E, 31.5.2011, p. 136.
(3) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0025.
(4) OJ C 41 E, 19.2.2009, p. 64.
(5) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0153.
(6) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0576.
(7) OJ L 221, 27.8.2011, p. 5.