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Armenia and the European Union have maintained positive relations over the years. An Armenia–EU Association Agreement was called off by Armenia early September 2013, though a revised agreement is still under consideration.〔 ==Armenia-EU relations== The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) (signed in 1996 and in force since 1999) serves as the legal framework for EU-Armenia bilateral relations. Since 2004, Armenia〔 and the other South Caucasus states have been part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, encouraging closer ties between Armenia and the EU. An ENP Action Plan for Armenia was published on 2 March 2005, "highlighting areas in which bilateral cooperation could feasibly and valuably be strengthened." The plan sets "jointly defined priorities in selected areas for the next five years." In November 2005, formal consultations on the Action Plan were opened in Yerevan and as of 2008 are ongoing.〔.〕 However, most scholars and commentators have criticized the effectiveness of the ENP in facilitating reform objectives outlined in the Action Plan, especially in relation to democracy, corruption and civil society engagement.〔.〕 Armenia entered the EU’s Eastern Partnership in 2009.〔 Armenia and the EU began negotiating an Association Agreement, which might ultimately include a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, to replace their PCA in July 2010.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Armenia )〕 In November 2012, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle stated that the AA negotiations could be finalized by November 2013. The new EU Centre in Armenia, set to become the European Union communication hub, officially opened in central Yerevan on 31 January 2013.〔.〕 On 3 September 2013 Armenia announced their decision to join the EurAsEC Customs Union.〔.〕〔 According to EU politicians, Armenian membership in the EurAsEC Customs Union would be incompatible with the agreements negotiated with the EU.〔 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated at the 2 October 2013 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session that Armenia was ready to sign the AA during the November 2013 Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, without the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area component of the agreement that contradicts Armenia's membership in the EurAsEC Customs Union.〔.〕〔〔.〕 A spokesperson of EU Commissioner Füle responded a few day later by saying "No Armenia-EU document is being readied to be signed at a Vilnius summit" and “We’re trying to find routes for further cooperation with Armenia, based on the existing achievements”.〔 This was followed by other EU officials who echoed this statement.〔(EU Not Interested in Armenia Deal Ahead of Summit ), Asbarez Armenian News (9 October 2013)〕 No AA was ultimately initialled at the summit.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Vilnius Summit: No Agreement initialing due to Armenia’s new international commitments )〕 In December 2013, the Polish ambassador to Armenia said that the EU and Armenia were discussing a less in-depth bilateral agreement on their relations, and did "not rule out the possibility that it may be an association agreement in a different form".〔(【引用サイトリンク】 EU, Armenia may sign modified association agreement, says Polish envoy )〕 In January 2015 the EU commissioner for European neighborhood policy and enlargement Johannes Hahn stated that the EU was willing to sign a revised AA without free trade provisions. Although Armenia’s trade with EU states far exceeds that with EurAsEC Customs Union members Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan combined, Armenia is dependent on Russia for security.〔 Armenia's alliance with Russia is seen by Armenia as a counterbalance to Azerbaijan’s sharp hike in military spending (Azerbaijan bought tanks, artillery cannons and rocket launchers worth billions of US dollars from Russia in 2011, 2012 and 2013).〔〔. .〕〔.〕 This is seen by Armenia as a threat given that the Nagorno-Karabakh War (an armed conflict that took place from 1991 to May 1994 between Armenia and Azerbaijan〔.〕〔.〕) remains unresolved.〔 Russia (also) has a military presence in Armenia.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Armenia–European Union relations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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