The European Commission announced, in the context of Annual Action Programme 2012 adoption, the allocation of new funding for Armenia. The new funding will be addressed to accelerate justice reform and preparing the ground for increased bilateral relations, political association and economic integration with the EU.

The Annual Action Programme 2012 for Armenia in the framework of the Eastern Partnership has been adopted by the European Commission. It includes new funding for accelerating justice reform and preparing the ground for increased bilateral relations, political association and economic integration with the EU.

The funding will support those Armenian institutions involved in the preparation and future implementation of new EU-Armenia agreements currently being negotiated, and in particular the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area), and the Visa Facilitation and Re-admission Agreement. In February 2012, the EU decided to launch negotiations on a free trade area with Armenia.

It will also allocated to new training opportunities for key national institutions, providing expert advice and best practice, setting up of schools for lawyers, judges and prosecutors. The overall goal is an independent, transparent and effective judiciary to serve the Armenian people, and builds on the EU's previous support to judicial reform in Armenia.