The 27-member EU council of foreign ministers has issued a mandate for negotiations on bilateral agreements between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, RIA Novosti reports, citing a spokesman from the council.
The agreement on the association, which does not provide for EU membership, replaces bilateral agreements on partnership and cooperation.
The decision was made by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, Catherine Ashton.
The agreement opens up prospects for political integration and gradual economic integration of the South Caucasian countries with the EU, based on implementation of the EU's ‘Eastern Partnership’ program, Ashton said.
