Russian FМ: The EU internal market is competitive; Armenian products won’t be welcomed with open arms

The European Union’s internal market is competitive and heavily regulated; there will be no favourable conditions awaiting Armenian products there, Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the European Cooperation Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“The harsh reality is that the EU internal market is highly competitive and regulated; Armenian products certainly won’t be welcomed there with open arms,” Maslennikov said.

At the same time, the diplomat noted, experience shows that candidate countries may have to wait not just years, but decades for EU membership.

As a reminder, the Council formally adopted temporary trade-liberalisation measures for Armenian products to support Armenia’s economy following trade restrictions recently imposed by Russia. These measures will liberalise around 80% of Armenian exports to the EU, suspending import duties on a broad range of products, including certain agricultural goods. This temporary preferential arrangement will apply for a period of two years.