Armenia has made more progress than is often perceived in Germany in the process of aligning its legislation and regulations with European economic and trade standards, Bundestag member Matthias Moosdorf said.
According to him, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) already provides a basis for alignment in the areas of competition, public procurement, product safety, customs administration and legal certainty.
At the same time, Moosdorf considers it unrealistic to speak of readiness for full integration with the EU. He said further alignment is still needed, particularly regarding the uniform application of laws, the independent and predictable functioning of government bodies and the judiciary, as well as the fight against corruption.
The lawmaker said attention should also be paid to compliance with technical and sanitary standards in trade. In addition, Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union should be taken into account.
For this reason, Moosdorf views the alignment process as a practical and phased process.
It should be noted that Nikol Pashinyan has traveled to Germany on a working visit. During the visit, the Armenian prime minister will be awarded the Hessian Peace Prize in Wiesbaden, at the Hessian state parliament, for his efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus. Pashinyan will then meet with local business representatives at the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
What stands out in this assessment is the distinction the lawmaker draws between the alignment already achieved and readiness for full integration. In other words, the issue is not only about adopting new laws; emphasis is also placed on their uniform application and the predictable functioning of state and judicial systems.
At the same time, Armenia’s membership in the EAEU is one of the factors identified by Moosdorf that should be taken into account when assessing the course of alignment. Therefore, his proposed phased approach is a logical continuation of the position presented in the article: progress should be assessed not only through statements, but also by the degree of practical alignment across different areas.
