The European Union and Armenia will start negotiating on the formation of a new legal framework for the development of bilateral relations, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said in a tweet on Monday, October 12, according to RFE/RL Armenian Service.

“The EU Foreign Affairs Council has authorized the European Commission to launch negotiations with Armenia,” Tigran Balayan announced.

The new deal between the EU and Armenia is expected to cover certain areas of political and economic cooperation, without “hindering Armenia’s membership commitments to the EEU.”

Hosting the European Council President Donald Tusk in Yerevan in July, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said: “I can’t imagine Armenia’s development without reforms and I can’t imagine reforms in Armenia without European experience and assistance. Therefore, while being a member of the EEU, we will continue to closely cooperate with the EU.”

“Armenia can count on the European Union's continued support to develop and improve protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Tusk said, in turn.