First Deputy Prime
Minister N.Altankhuyag will lead the working group recently set up to
expedite introduction of European Union (EU) standards in all spheres of economy
and business in Mongolia. Prime Minister S.Batbold has urged the group to
urgently update an existing draft plan to prepare a policy on how quickly to adopt EU principles, norms and standards. The Prime
Minister himself and some other Ministers have already suggested some ways on
how this can be done.

The Prime Minister wants the group to
study how several former socialist countries in Europe managed to join the EU
after meeting EU standards.  “Mongolia
and these countries used to have the same political system and began their
transition almost at the same time. So our experience has been similar and we
can do things they have already done,” he said, adding that EU countries are
ready to help Mongolia.  

The matter, he said, was urgent as the
EU was willing to consider “our desire to have a comprehensive cooperation agreement with it” but insists on Mongolia adopting EU standards,
norms and principles. Having the agreement will greatly benefit Mongolia, so
fast progress has to be made on this condition.

How serious the Prime Minister is about the issue was seen
when, at a meeting with a
German delegation led by Dirk Niebel, Minister for Economic Cooperation and
Development, Mr. Batbold raised the issue and said adoption of EUnorms would
help develop responsible mining practices and improve capability in all
spheres. “I expect the success of this measure to help protect the environment, create an open, just, responsible and sustainable society, and
improve governance,” he said.