Trade promotion capacity building - European Commission

The programme aims to foster inclusive economic development of Armenia through enhanced trade relations with the EU in the context of the negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The specific objectives of the programme are: (i) improving the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR); (ii) reducing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT); (iii) pursuing the implementation of the Sanitary and Phyto- Sanitary (SPS) measures. Each objective corresponds to specific results: (i) legislative and regulatory approx­imation to EU acquis and increased cooperation with the EU customs; (ii) improvement of the Quality Infra­structure institutional framework; (iii) improved traceability of food of animal origin; (iv) improved control of food of plant origin. Complementary support measures aim to increase the participation of Civil Society Organisations and the Parliament in the budgeting process and policy formulation in the area of DCFTA. Arme­nian advocacy groups need technical assistance and training in the development of independent budget anal­ysis to be able to challenge government decisions and to raise public interest on these issues. Further tech­nical assistance is required to assist the contracting authority in implementing the programme, assessing the fulfillment of conditions for budget support disbursements, evaluating the impact of the programme, and conducting financial and systems audits.