Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan received the delegation led by the newly appointed Director of Eastern Neighborhood and Institutional Strengthening of the General Directorate for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, Adrien Kirali. The head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, was also present at the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, Adrien Kirali handed over to the Deputy Prime Minister the budget support financing agreement signed by the EU to address the primary needs of the forcibly displaced people from NK, as well as the technical assistance financing agreement aimed at implementing the GCC.
The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated Adrien Kirali on his appointment, expressing confidence that RA-EU cooperation will deepen with joint efforts.
Mher Grigoryan, highly appreciating the cooperation with the EU, emphasized the importance of the implementation process of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the implementation of joint programs developed under the Economic and Investment Plan from the point of view of Armenia’s sustainable development.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan presented the main goals and principles of the “Crossroads of Peace” project to the EU delegation, emphasizing its importance in terms of establishing stability and lasting peace in the region. In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the importance of Armenia’s participation in major regional infrastructure projects and expressed hope that the “Crossroads of Peace” will become an integral part of the “Global Gateway” initiative.
The interlocutors both emphasized the prospective directions of cooperation, particularly in the areas of human capital development, infrastructure development, and trade and economy. Special emphasis was placed on the reforms implemented and planned in the fields of public administration and digitization, which should be in line with modern trends. The “Academic City” initiative was announced by the government, and its main goals were also discussed.
