The core mandate of AEPLAC phase four (November 2005-November 2007) is to provide high level policy and legal advice to the Government of Armenia on issues related to implementation of the PCA, and to support Armenia’s economic development political and social development in the framework of the PCA, ENP and WTO . . .
Upon the request of the RA Ministry of Economy AEPLAC is working on a paper on the reforms in the telecommunication sector. The paper will include an analysis of international experiences in regulation and liberalization as well as introduction of elements of competition in the telecommunication sector. Based on this the paper looks at the situation and developments taking place in Armenia’s infrastructural sectors.
Topics discussed in the paper, include regulation and reforms of the telecommunication sector in the EU countries, definition of markets and EU telecom sector today. Besides, the book will present experience of some EU countries related to liberalisation and competition issues in telecommunication sector.
This manual, which was jointly elaborated by the Central Bank and AEPLAC, presents the trends of formation and further development of the European Single Marker for financial services. The manual covers the descriptions of legal acts regulating the sectors covering the EU financial services market.
The material is interesting and useful for banks operating in the Republic of Armenia, insurance undertakings as well as for other interested stakeholders.
Community customs law: a guide to the customs rules on trade between the(enlarged) EU and third countries, with value added tax upon importation and exportation
AEPLAC Phase IV Extension
Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Center, AEPLAC, has been extended with another 6 months by the EC Delegation to Armenia.
On 02 December 2008, the final Steering Committee (SC) meeting was held in the AEPLAC offices. During the meeting, Mr. Kenneth Munther, the AEPLAC European Director, and Mr. Sargis Grigoryan, the AEPLAC Armenian Director, presented the Completion Report for the AEPLAC Phase IV 6 month’s extension to the SC members.
The SC members on behalf of the EC and their Ministries expressed their appreciation to AEPLAC for its efficient work, and unanimously approved the Completion Report. On behalf of AEPLAC and its staff, Mr. Munther thanked the SC members for their active participation in the AEPLAC activities, which has resulted in a project characterised by successful and fruitful cooperation with its beneficiaries.
Mr. Munther also mentioned that he will leave AEPLAC on 06 December. The SC members expressed a special appreciation for his work in AEPLAC, and hoped to continue cooperation in the future under a different context.
On November 19 2008 in “Golden Tulip Yerevan” hotel AEPLAC held a presentation of its annual report “Armenian Economic Trends-2007”.
As in previous issues the Report contains in-depth and systematised analysis of the main macroeconomic developments in Armenia during 2007. The Report covers also a brief analysis of developments during the six months of 2008.
The analysis is quite wide in its scope and covers various areas and indicators of Armenian economy, including structure of the GDP (gross demand structure and GDP output structure by sectors), inflation, labour market, financial/banking sectors, the state budget, external debt and external sector, etc. Report contains extensive international comparisons, where Armenia’s economic indicators and trends are compared with relevant figures of different countries of the world..
In 2007 Central Bank of Armenia and AEPLAC have published “The European Single Market, financial services” manual which presents the trends of formation and further development of The European Single Market and financial services. The later one was of great interest as for the banks operating in the Republic of Armenia, insurance companies, as well as for the interested readers.
Considering this fact, in 2008 Central Bank of Armenia has republished this manual. AEPLAC has supported to the development of capacity progress, which encouraged the republication of this manual.
According to the request of the Ministry of Finance AEPLAC is currently preparing the Report on Improvement of State Regulation of the Armenian Jewellery Market. The Report will provide detailed information on the Armenian and the EU Member States’ existing legal and institutional systems regulating the jewellery market, the comparative analysis of these systems, and recommendations aimed at the improvement of the Armenian State regulatory mechanisms. The requirements of the Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals as well as opportunities and gains of Armenia’s accession to the Convention will also be introduced. A letter of appreciation was submitted by the RA Ministry of Finance stating that the report provides for useful information which will be applied during legislative reforms. The Ministry of Finance also requested for further assistance in elaboration of an Action Plan for the approximation of Armenian legislation to those of the EU Member States and for the Armenia’s accession to the Hallmarking Convention.
High Level Expert Group on EU financial supervision to hold first meeting on 12 November
The independent High Level Group on financial supervision set up by Commission President José Manuel Barroso and chaired by Jacques de Larosière will hold its initial meeting on 12 November. The Group will make recommendations to the Commission on strengthening European supervisory arrangements covering all financial sectors, with the objective of establishing a more efficient, integrated and sustainable European system of supervision and also of reinforcing cooperation between European supervisors and their international counterparts. The full mandate for the Group is attached.
President Barroso said: "I am delighted that Jacques de Larosière and the group members have been able to make such a swift start to their important work. There is an obvious mismatch between European and global financial markets and supervision which remains largely national. There is wide agreement that we need to bridge that gap but different ideas on how to go about it. So the Group's role is to bring forward concrete proposals which will contribute to greater financial stability and help maximise protection for depositors, policy-holders and investors."
19 September 2008
Reform of global economic institutions, better Infrastructure, and more effective aid is key to meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals
An EU research paper on the UN Millennium Development Goals, which has been presented in Brussels today, argues that the Goals are threatened by the challenges of high food and oil prices and global economic slowdown. The paper suggests that greater efforts are needed for more effective aid, investments in infrastructure to sustain growth, and that social protection should be in each country's agenda. The research was conducted by an independent group of European researchers led by Prof. François Bourguignon, Director of the Paris School of Economics.
Commissioner Louis Michel said: "The European Union is leading international efforts to achieve the MDGs. This latest research offers us valuable new insights into how best the international community can achieve these important goals including cutting poverty by half. It also supports European Commission policy calling for greater coherence in development assistance. I am convinced that this work will help us to make the difference and to take the European and international development agenda forward."
AEPLAC has developed a special virtual office and software"ADAMS" (AEPLAC Document Application Management System), which is a virtual research facility enabling on-line screening, comparison, and final development of a searchable detailed EU – Armenia comparative legal database.
This manual, which was jointly elaborated by the Central Bank and AEPLAC, presents the trends of formation and further development of the European Single Marker for financial services. The manual covers the descriptions of legal acts regulating the sectors covering the EU financial services market.
