ENP conference to be held in Brussels

PanARMENIAN.Net - On 3 September, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, will host in Brussels the first ever meeting of Ministers and other representatives from all of the countries covered by the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) with their counterparts from the European Union. This international conference: "Working Together - Strengthening the European Neighborhood Policy", organized and hosted by the European Commission, will include a ministerial-level morning session, which will focus particularly on the opportunities for trade liberalization, mobility, and the challenges of climate change and energy security. The afternoon session will open up the debate to other stakeholders including business groupings and non-governmental organizations. The conference will be opened by José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, Luis Amado, Foreign Minister of Portugal and the current EU Presidency, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner.



Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "This is a partnership of equals and it is essential that we listen carefully to the aspirations of our neighbors. I believe it is time to bring together all partners to exchange ideas on the strengthening of this policy. We would like to hear our neighbors' views: where should we place the greatest emphasis in our relations? Where do they see their interests reflected, and where, perhaps, they still feel that there are gaps to be filled?"



She added: "We have set out a number of areas in which we want to further develop our relationship with our neighbors, especially with regard to trade, mobility and economic support. The EU offers every neighbor country the chance to choose its own path. Those who want to advance relations through the ENP are already seeing their commitment matched with new opportunities. This conference will underline the EU's determination to develop individual and differentiated partnership that reflects the interest of each neighbor," reported the press office of the delegation of the European Commission to Armenia.



Armenia will be represented at the conference by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.