On October 9th, the “Partnership for Open Society” initiative organized a discussion titled, “Armenia’s Strategic Challenges to Socio-Economic Development”. This was the inaugural event within the series, “Armenia at the Crossroads of Development: Toward Europe or Russia?”, which will include public discussions, debates, and events throughout the months of October and November, aimed at better understanding the implications of joining the Customs Union. In attendance were several members of the diplomatic corps, including representatives from the European Union and Russian embassies.
The discussion provided a forum for engaging in informative and constructive dialog on the economic implications of joining the Customs Union. Invited to speak were representatives from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance. While no one from the Ministry of Finance attended the event, the ministry of Economy was represented by the Head of the Trade and Market Regulation Department, Mr. Gagik Kocharyan. Joining him was a team of national experts representing a wide scope of knowledge; Vahagn Ghazaryan spoke about the key differences between the DCFTA and the Customs Union, while Anna Makaryan discussed how Armenia’s current social and economic challenges will be affected under the Customs Union. Finally, Artak Manukyan compared state procurement processes between EU and CU member states. The presentations were followed by a Q&A and open discussion with RA Government officials, politicians, and various European ambassadors and representatives in attendance. As part of a collaborative effort with the Media Center, the event was livestreamed and can be viewed in its entirety below.
The September 3rd surprise announcement by President Serzh Sargsyan that Armenia would be joining the Customs Union, foregoing the EU Association Agreement, has disrupted a four year negotiation and reform process. This decision has long-term and far reaching implications on almost every aspect of social, political, and economic life in Armenia. This sudden U-turn by the Armenian Government has left Armenian civil society with many unanswered questions.
Throughout the month of October, the “Partnership for Open Society” will continue holding public discussions, debates, and events focused on addressing the many unanswered questions about the Customs Union, and will include topics ranging from an assessment of the economic impact, a critical look at the legitimacy of the president’s decision, a discussion on the role of national values, and the ramifications for other European integration processes. The next public event is set to take place on Oct 29th, and will be focus on the decision making process of joining the Customs Union, through the Armenian legal framework.