The Council of the European Union has approved temporary trade-liberalisation measures for Armenian products following trade restrictions recently imposed by Russia.

Axar.az reports, citing the European Commission, that the measures will liberalise around 80% of Armenian exports to the EU and temporarily suspend import duties on a broad range of products for two years.

They will cover almost 99% of Armenia’s exports of fresh fruit, vegetables and plants to Russia and more than 91% of beverages and spirits.

The preferential arrangements include safeguards to protect EU producers and are conditional on Armenia complying with rules of origin, cooperating with the EU, avoiding new trade restrictions on EU imports, and respecting democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights under the EU-Armenia CEPA.

The Council endorsed the European Commission’s proposal without changes. The European Parliament is expected to approve it without amendments in September, after which the regulation will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.