Armenia signs agreements in Brussels to join EU customs and tax programmes

Armenia and the European Union (EU) have signed agreements in Brussels on Armenia’s participation in the EU’s Customs and Fiscalis cooperation programmes. Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC), the country’s tax and customs authority, announced this. The documents were signed by SRC Chairman Eduard Hakobyan and EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

Armenia will contribute €76.5 thousand to the programmes in 2027. As BusinessDaily reported earlier, according to the SRC’s justification, Customs will account for €40.0 thousand (€38.5 thousand operational contribution and €1.5 thousand participation fee) and Fiscalis for €36.5 thousand (€35.1 thousand and €1.4 thousand). The operational contribution is based on the ratio of the programme budget to Armenia’s GDP, with an 80% reduction.

Customs involves gradually aligning Armenia’s customs legislation with EU law and World Customs Organization standards, digitalising customs procedures, introducing European electronic systems and training customs officers. The SRC’s justification states the goal as ensuring that “an EU investor in Armenia deals with customs administration familiar to them.”

Fiscalis will give the tax service access to EU information systems, allow it to exchange tax data with other countries and strengthen efforts against tax fraud and evasion. Better tax collection and a smaller shadow economy are expected as a result.

According to Hakobyan, the agreements are a practical result of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU, signed in 2017 and fully in force since 2021, and a continuation of this year’s Armenia-EU summit arrangements. “Our goal is clear: a modern, transparent and accountable revenue administration based on the rule of law and good governance that serves our citizens and businesses effectively,” the SRC chairman stressed.

Hakobyan thanked the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), adding that the Armenian side is ready to start work immediately. The parties agreed to appoint officials responsible for implementing the agreements.

The EU’s Customs and Fiscalis programmes have operated since the 1990s, with the current phase covering 2021-2027. For Armenia, they will apply for one year, in 2027.

Armenia and the European Union (EU) have signed agreements in Brussels on Armenia’s participation in the EU’s Customs and Fiscalis cooperation programmes. Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC), the country’s tax and customs authority, announced this. The documents were signed by SRC Chairman Eduard Hakobyan and EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

Armenia will contribute €76.5 thousand to the programmes in 2027. As BusinessDaily reported earlier, according to the SRC’s justification, Customs will account for €40.0 thousand (€38.5 thousand operational contribution and €1.5 thousand participation fee) and Fiscalis for €36.5 thousand (€35.1 thousand and €1.4 thousand). The operational contribution is based on the ratio of the programme budget to Armenia’s GDP, with an 80% reduction.

Customs involves gradually aligning Armenia’s customs legislation with EU law and World Customs Organization standards, digitalising customs procedures, introducing European electronic systems and training customs officers. The SRC’s justification states the goal as ensuring that “an EU investor in Armenia deals with customs administration familiar to them.”

Fiscalis will give the tax service access to EU information systems, allow it to exchange tax data with other countries and strengthen efforts against tax fraud and evasion. Better tax collection and a smaller shadow economy are expected as a result.

According to Hakobyan, the agreements are a practical result of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU, signed in 2017 and fully in force since 2021, and a continuation of this year’s Armenia-EU summit arrangements. “Our goal is clear: a modern, transparent and accountable revenue administration based on the rule of law and good governance that serves our citizens and businesses effectively,” the SRC chairman stressed.

Hakobyan thanked the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), adding that the Armenian side is ready to start work immediately. The parties agreed to appoint officials responsible for implementing the agreements.

The EU’s Customs and Fiscalis programmes have operated since the 1990s, with the current phase covering 2021-2027. For Armenia, they will apply for one year, in 2027.