EU and Armenia launch visa liberalisation dialogue

On 9 September, in Yerevan, the European Commission and the Republic of Armenia announced the start of a visa liberalisation dialogue. This process aims to support Armenia in achieving a visa-free regime for short stays in the EU, provided that the relevant conditions for well-managed mobility and security are put in place.

The visa dialogue is part of the broader framework of EU-Armenia relations, which has seen “significant progress” since the signing of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2017, the European Commission said in a press release. The dialogue will sustain ongoing efforts to support Armenia’s comprehensive reform agenda, particularly in areas which are crucial for future visa-free travel to the EU, such as document security, border and migration management, the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as upholding fundamental rights.

The dialogue builds on the successful implementation of the EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, which have simplified travel procedures for many Armenian citizens since 1 January 2014. Currently, all EU citizens are exempt from visa requirements when entering Armenia.

The European Commission says that the process is merit-based, it will last as long as it is necessary and there will be no automatic transition to visa-free travel. “All benchmarks must be fully met before the final decision on visa liberalisation is taken by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. The process will require close cooperation with EU Member States to monitor progress and developments rigorously,” the press release said.

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Press release