Political and economic relations between Armenia and EU: perspectives.

Abstract

The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union (EU) in 2004 and in 2007 increased the importance of the EU's political and economic relations with the South Caucasus (SC) countries. The three countries located in the SC were invited to participate in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and in the Eastern Partnership (EaP). At the same time, the relations of these countries with the EU are strongly influenced by their relations with Russia. In order to examine the developing cooperation between EU and SC in the case of Armenia, the current thesis aims to analyze the political and economic relations between Armenia and EU and to examine the impeding factors for a closer cooperation. This thesis argues that for the closer cooperation the EU needs to enhance its influence in the region and by using available tools and mechanisms, to contribute to the gradual removal of those factors, which prevent the development of relations.