Armenia and EU launch visa liberalization dialogue

Armenia and the European Union have officially initiated a dialogue on visa liberalization, the Armenian government reported.

«Today, in Yerevan, the European Commission and the Republic of Armenia announced the start of a visa liberalization dialogue. This process aims to support Armenia in achieving a visa-free regime for short stays with the EU, provided that the relevant conditions for well-managed mobility and security are put in place,» the statement read.

The visa dialogue is part of the broader EU-Armenia relationship, which has made significant progress since the signing of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2017. The dialogue will sustain ongoing efforts to support Armenia’s comprehensive reform agenda, particularly in areas crucial for future visa-free travel to the EU, such as document security, border and migration management, the fight against corruption and organized 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 and reduced visa fees for many Armenian citizens since Jan. 1, 2014. Currently, all EU citizens are exempt from visa requirements when entering Armenia.

«The launch of the visa liberalization dialogue is a clear demonstration of our commitment to enhancing mobility and cooperation with Armenia. It represents a step forward in our shared objective of bringing the people of Armenia and the EU closer together and a recognition of Armenia’s efforts in strengthening its ties and shared values with the EU,» said Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life.

The Government of Armenia stated that there will be no automatic transition to visa-free travel. Both parties will work closely to ensure that the dialogue is conducted efficiently and effectively.

«Armenia highly values the commitment of the European Union and its Member States to fostering closer ties between our societies and citizens. The launch of the EU visa liberalization dialogue is an important decision, underpinned by the democratic reforms initiated by the Republic of Armenia. We view this process as a strategic agenda for further modernization of migration, mobility and border management, and we acknowledge the necessity of continued and focused efforts to achieve this objective,» said Mher Grigoryan, deputy prime minister of Armenia.

In April 2024, the European Commission put forward a €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia for the 2024-2027 period. The plan aims to build up Armenia’s socio-economic resilience. A visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia for short-term travel has been in effect for several years. On July 22, 2024, the Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the European Commission’s intention to launch a visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia.

Kazakhstan has been more active than other Central Asian countries in seeking visa facilitation with the EU. Discussions between Astana and Brussels include unifying the list of required documents when applying for a visa, reducing consular fees, shortening application processing times and extending the validity of multiple-entry visas. Meanwhile, Brussels has requested that Astana develop an action plan for the readmission of its citizens.

In January 2024, Kestutis Jankauskas, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Kazakhstan, revealed a plan to hold a second round of consultations on easing the EU visa regime for Kazakhstan during a meeting with Alibek Bakayev, Kazakhstan’s deputy minister of foreign Affairs.