Name: Committee on International Trade Ordinary meeting
Uploaded: 2026-07-14T12:30:00+00:00
Duration: 10253 s

01:58 - 03:25

Speaker 3

The ATM to Armenia was adopted by the Commission last week on the 2nd of July to liberalize around 80% of the exports to the European Union. The temporary measure and this will really an important support for the economic development in Armenia. And to explain a little bit about the measures adopted, I'm happy that Ms. Eva Krauza is here with us to explain the situation. She's deputy head of unit for European Eastern Neighborhood. And it's totally clear that we will handle this proposal in a swift manner, I guess in a simplified procedure, so that this can come into force even quick.

And to welcome also the ambassador of Armenia and welcome to us and to listen to the discussion.

03:25 - 03:35

Speaker 2

Thanks a lot. And so I give now Eva the floor for 10 minutes.

03:35 - 08:37

Speaker 1

Thank you, Chair, thank you for having me here today. Honorable members, good morning, good afternoon everyone. This proposal is a response to recent moves by Russia to restrict imports from Armenia. Russia stepped up pressure on Armenia's pro-EU government ahead of the elections on 7 June in response to Armenia's growing aspiration for further integration with the EU. Shortly before the elections, Russia imposed an import ban on Armenian cut flowers, which represent 94% of total Armenian export of cut flowers.

This added to existing measures that targeted already fish and some spirits and beverages. Following the elections, which were won by the incumbent government, Russia introduced a blanket ban on all quarantinable plant products originating in Armenia. Following those restrictions, the Commission adopted on the 2nd of July a proposal to grant autonomous trade measures to Armenia. The aim is to support Armenian exporters in diversifying towards the EU market. Those measures will provide Armenia with temporary, for two years, tariff liberalization for a wide range of products broadly similar to GSP+ and duty-free TRQs on certain agricultural goods.

This will liberalize almost 80% of Armenian exports to the EU. The measures will cover 99% of Armenian exports to Russia of plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, so almost the totality, and over 91% of exports of beverages and spirits and cover almost 88% of Armenia's exports to Russia. I would like to stress the exceptional nature of these measures. Until now, ATMs have been reserved to EU candidate countries. So this shows the level of our commitment and support for Armenia.

In more detail. As I said, the GSP+ was our basis and we have excluded from this list products sensitive from industrial policy perspective. First, this relates to products under EU autonomous steel measures. However, they affect only 0.01% of imports from Armenia in 2025. So these are not very meaningful.

Second, Armenal, an aluminium foil exporter that is based in Armenia and is a subsidiary of the Russian company Rusal, were also excluded and therefore imports of aluminium foil representing 13% of total EU imports from Armenia in 2025 have also been excluded. Last, we have some systemic sensitivities on modified starches, rum, ethyl alcohol, sweet corn and sugar derivatives that are also excluded from the proposal. They together represent around 1% of imports from Armenia. These sensitivities are not linked to Armenia as such, but they have been systematically excluded from our trade agreements. Most importantly, the GSP+ list does not cover some of the agricultural products that were specifically targeted by Russia, such as tomatoes, which account for 5.5% of Armenian exports to Russia, and has also prohibitive seasonal exclusions for the main fruit and vegetable exports.

We have therefore added certain fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, and removed the seasonal limitations, while introducing TRQs for sensitive agricultural products. The added products include tomatoes and apples, and we have removed seasonality and introduced TRQs on cucumbers, grapes, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, and strawberries. I would like to also say that the existing entry price system will be maintained for all relevant fruits and vegetables. As a reminder, some of the important Armenian exports such as brandy, molybdenum, and copper already benefited from 0% duty as the MFN rate on these products is already 0%, so the proposed ATMs will not change anything for these products. And finally, the proposal also includes a safeguard mechanism that can be activated in case of serious disturbances on the EU market caused by Armenian imports under the proposed autonomous trade measures.

Thank you.