The European Union seeks to further Armenia’s socio-economic development by contributing to the long-term objective of sustainable development. Key priorities identified by Armenia and the European Union are: improving the investment climate, strengthening private sector-led growth and the further aligning of economic legislation and administrative practices with EU standards.

The EU Advisory Group cooperates with governmental bodies that are coordinated by the Ministry of Economy and work on trade and trade-related issues. This includes addressing technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, trade facilitation and customs administration, rules of origin and the protection of intellectual property rights. Such activities are helping Armenia to prepare for a future deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union. More specifically, the EU Advisory Group supports the Ministry of Economy in:

• Addressing key European Commission recommendations to the Armenian authorities concerning the country’s preparedness for DCFTA negotiations;
• Strategic matters by providing advice on legal texts and policy documents such as strategies on food safety and quality infrastructure;
• Improving the competitiveness of Armenian economic operators and facilitating their access to advanced markets through creating/strengthening an independent institutional system and national capacities in fields such as technical regulations, standardisation, metrology, conformity assessment, including accreditation, and market surveillance;
• Increasing innovation, creativity, fair competition and competitiveness by improving protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). Minimizing the health risks caused by counterfeit products is another goal being addressed through legislative and procedural reforms, training and awareness-raising initiatives as well as strategic advice;
• Promoting Armenian exports to the European Union by raising awareness about export possibilities for small and medium enterprises (SME-s).