Temporary trade-liberalisation measures applicable to Armenian products

Committee on International Trade

European Parliament legislative resolution of 15 September 2026 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures applicable to Armenian products (COM(2026)0348 – C10-0176/2026 – 2026/0189(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2026)0348),

–having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 207(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C100176/2026),

–having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 2 September 2026 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the letter from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

–having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0226/2026),

1.Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

P10_TC1-COD(2026)0189

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 15 September 2026 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2026/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures applicable to certain products originating in the Republic of Armenia

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1) The Comprehensive and enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part (the ‘Partnership Agreement’) constitutes the basis for the relationship between the Union and the Republic of Armenia (‘Armenia’). In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2018/104, Title VI of the Partnership Agreement, which relates to trade and trade-related matters, has been applied provisionally since 1 June 2018. The Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 March 2021, following its ratification by all Member States.

(2) One of the main objectives of the Partnership Agreement is to establish enhanced trade cooperation allowing for sustained regulatory cooperation in relevant areas, in compliance with the rights and obligations arising from World Trade Organization membership. Furthermore, the Partnership Agreement reflects the intention of the Union and Armenia to develop trade between them. In order to support and accelerate the development of closer economic relations between the Union and Armenia, it is important to increase the trade flows by stimulating the import of certain products.

(3) Since May 2026, the Russian Federation has introduced large-scale trade measures affecting imports of, and transit for, key Armenian export products including alcoholic beverages, mineral water, fruits and vegetables. Those measures have significantly reduced Armenia’s access to its traditional markets and disrupted established supply chains. The situation has had an adverse impact on Armenia’s export opportunities, particularly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises and agricultural producers, and risks seriously undermining Armenia’s economic resilience and social stability. Under the framework of the Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership adopted on 2 December 2025, the Union and Armenia have committed to deepening their economic and trade relations and to supporting trade and economic diversification. Against that background and in a spirit of solidarity with Armenia, it is appropriate to stimulate trade flows and grant concessions in the form of trade-liberalisation measures for selected Armenian products.

(4) In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), the Union is to ensure consistency between the different areas of its external action. Pursuant to Article 207(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the common commercial policy is to be conducted in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action.

(5) Therefore, temporary trade-liberalisation measures should be introduced in the form of the suspension of ad valorem duties similar to the suspensions envisaged by the Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus schedule with some adjustments, such as the removal of certain sensitive products and the inclusion of certain agricultural goods banned by Russia, and in the form of the removal of ad valorem duties on eight agricultural products within the limits of applicable tariff quotas.

(6) In order to prevent fraud, the trade-liberalisation measures established by this Regulation should be conditional upon Armenia complying with all the relevant conditions set out in this Regulation and in the Partnership Agreement, including with the rules of origin applicable to the products concerned and the procedures related thereto, and upon Armenia’s involvement in close administrative cooperation with the Union, as provided for in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

(7) Armenia should abstain from introducing new duties or charges having equivalent effect or new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect, from increasing existing levels of duties or charges and from introducing any other restrictions on trade with the Union. In the event that Armenia fails to comply with any of those conditions, the Commission should be empowered to suspend temporarily, in whole or in part, the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in this Regulation.

(8) Articles 2 and 9 of the Partnership Agreement establish that respecting democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are essential elements of the Partnership Agreement. It is appropriate to introduce the possibility of temporarily suspending the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in this Regulation in the event that Armenia fails to comply with any of the provisions identified as essential elements in the Partnership Agreement.

(9) Subject to an assessment by the Commission initiated either following a duly substantiated request from a Member State or on the Commission’s own initiative, it is necessary to provide for the possibility to take any necessary measures regarding imports of any products falling under the scope of this Regulation which are adversely affecting the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products.

(10) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to temporarily suspend the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in this Regulation in the event that the conditions for entitlement to those trade-liberalisation measures are no longer complied with, and to introduce safeguards in cases where the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products are adversely affected by imports under this Regulation. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The advisory procedure should be used for the adoption of provisional safeguard measures, given the effects and nature of those measures and their sequential logic in relation to the adoption of definitive safeguard measures.

(11) In view of the urgent situation in Armenia, it is considered to be appropriate to invoke the exception to the eight-week period provided for in Article 4 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national Parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the TEU, to the TFEU and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

(12) In light of the urgent situation in Armenia, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and should apply for a period of two years,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 Trade-liberalisation measures

1. The following trade-liberalisation measures are introduced:

(a) the products originating in Armenia listed in Annex I shall be admitted for import into the Union exempted from ad valorem import duties;

(b) the products originating in Armenia listed in Annex II shall be admitted for import into the Union exempted from ad valorem import duties within the limits of Union tariff quotas as set out in that Annex.

2. The tariff quotas referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), of this Article shall be managed by the Commission in accordance with Articles 49 to 54 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

Article 2 Conditions for entitlement to the trade-liberalisation measures

The trade-liberalisation measures provided for in Article 1 shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) compliance by Armenia with the rules of origin provided for in Articles 59 to 70 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 and Articles 113 to 126 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

(b) Armenia engaging in close and effective administrative cooperation with the Union, including for the verification of evidence of origin, in order to prevent any risk of fraud;

(c) Armenia abstaining from introducing new duties or charges having equivalent effect or new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect for imports originating in the Union, from increasing existing levels of duties or charges, and from introducing any other restrictions on trade with the Union, including discriminatory internal administrative measures, unless duly justified and notified to the Commission; and

(d) Armenia respecting democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as provided for in Articles 2 and 9 of the Partnership Agreement.

For the purposes of point (a) of the first paragraph of this Article and without prejudice to Article 119(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447, an invoice declaration may also be made out by an Armenian exporter registered in the Union’s Registered Exporter (REX) system in accordance with the relevant provisions of Articles 70, 72, 86, 89 and 91 of that Regulation.

Article 3 Temporary suspension of trade-liberalisation measures

1. Where the Commission finds that there is sufficient evidence of a failure by Armenia to comply with any of the conditions set out in Article 2, first paragraph, it may, by means of an implementing act, temporarily suspend in whole or in part the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in Article 1. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 5(3).

2. Where a Member State requests that the Commission suspend any of the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in Article 1 on the basis of a failure by Armenia to comply with the conditions set out in Article 2, first paragraph, point (c), the Commission shall provide, within four months of the request, a reasoned opinion on whether the claim that Armenia has failed to comply is substantiated. If the Commission concludes that the claim is substantiated, it shall initiate the procedure referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 4 Safeguard measures

1. Where a product covered by Article 1(1) originating in Armenia is imported under conditions that adversely affect the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products, the Commission may impose, by means of an implementing act, any measure that is necessary. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 5(3).

Such measures may be imposed for as long as necessary to counteract the adverse effects on the Union market or on the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products.

2. The Commission shall carry out an assessment of the situation of the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products with a view to imposing measures in accordance with paragraph 1. That assessment shall be initiated:

(a) following a duly substantiated request from a Member State including sufficient prima facie evidence reasonably available to that Member State pursuant to paragraph 3 of imports adversely affecting the market referred to in paragraph 1; or

(b) on its own initiative, after it has become apparent to the Commission that there is sufficient prima facie evidence of imports adversely affecting the market referred to in paragraph 1.

The assessment referred to in the first subparagraph shall be concluded within four months of its initiation.

3. In carrying out the assessment pursuant to paragraph 2, the Commission shall take into consideration all relevant market developments, including the impact of the imports concerned on the situation of the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products. That assessment shall include the following factors:

(a) the rate and amount of the increase in imports from Armenia of the product concerned in absolute and relative terms;

(b) the effect of the imports concerned on production and prices in the Union market or the market of one or more Member States, while taking into consideration the development of imports from other sources.

Other relevant factors may also be taken into consideration.

4. In critical circumstances where delay would cause damage to the relevant market that would be difficult to repair, the Commission may provisionally impose, by means of an implementing act, any measure that is necessary. Such measure may be imposed only after a duly substantiated request from a Member State pursuant to paragraph 2, first subparagraph, point (a), of this Article and shall be adopted within 21 days of receipt of that request. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 5(4). Those acts shall remain in force for a period not exceeding 120 days.

5. Where, as a result of the assessment referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission considers that the Union market or the market of one or more Member States for like or directly competing products has been adversely affected and intends to impose a definitive measure pursuant to paragraph 1, it shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing its intention to impose such a measure. That notice shall provide a summary of the main results of the assessment and specify the period within which interested parties may submit their views in writing. That period shall not exceed 10 days from the date of publication of the notice.

Article 5 Committee procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Customs Code Committee established by Article 285(1) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to Article 3(1) of this Regulation. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

2. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safeguards established by Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to Article 4(1) of this Regulation. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

4. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 6 Reporting on the implementation of the trade-liberalisation measures

The Commission shall report on the implementation of the trade-liberalisation measures provided for in this Regulation in the Partnership Committee in trade configuration set up under the Partnership Agreement.

Article 7 Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall apply until … [two years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at …,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

ANNEX I

LIST OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO TRADE-LIBERALISATION MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 1(1), point (a)

Notwithstanding the rules for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature (‘CN’), the description of the products is to be considered as indicative, the tariff preferences being determined by the CN codes. Where ‘ex’ CN codes are indicated, the tariff preferences are to be determined by the CN code and the description, together.

Entry of products with a CN code marked with an asterisk (*) is subject to the conditions laid down in the relevant Union law.

For reasons of simplification, the products are listed in groups. These may include products for which Common Customs Tariff duties were withdrawn or suspended.

ANNEX II

LIST OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO TRADE-LIBERALISATION MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 1(1), point (b)

Notwithstanding the rules for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature (‘CN’), the description of the products in the third column of the table is to be considered as indicative. The preferential scheme is determined, within the context of this Annex, by the scope of the CN codes set out in the second column of the table as applicable at the time of adoption of this Regulation.