The European Union and Armenia are engaged in significant discussions regarding the potential launch of formal talks on visa liberalization for Armenian citizens. These talks mark a substantial step forward in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two entities, focusing on easing travel restrictions and granting Armenian nationals greater freedom to move within EU member states.
This dialogue aims to explore the mutual benefits of visa liberalization, address any technical requirements, and enhance cooperation in areas such as security, migration, and border management. Both parties see this as a crucial milestone in deepening their strategic partnership, recognizing visa liberalization as a critical agenda item for future collaborations.
The EU’s commitment to fostering closer ties with Armenia while promoting people-to-people connections and supporting Armenia’s broader European integration efforts is reflected in these ongoing discussions. To demonstrate this commitment, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas recently held meetings with several key Armenian officials, including President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan. These discussions centered around advancing cooperation between the EU and Armenia, with a particular focus on visa-related matters and the Schengen area.
These high-level talks aim to enhance diplomatic ties and explore pathways for future collaborations in various areas, including visa liberalization. The goal is for both the EU and Armenia to reach an agreement that eliminates visa requirements for Armenian nationals for short-term visits to EU member states. However, this process requires Armenia to implement substantial reforms in crucial areas such as the security of travel documents, management of migration and asylum processes, border control, public order, and security, as well as the protection of fundamental rights associated with freedom of movement.
According to the EU Delegation, this process will take several years and will involve close collaboration with EU countries to ensure that the necessary reforms are fully realized and maintained over time.
The European Commission formally initiated discussions on visa liberalization with Armenia in July of this year. These negotiations are taking place within the framework of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) and follow a series of efforts by the EU to strengthen ties with Armenia. However, Armenia must fulfill a number of specific conditions before any visa liberalization agreement can be fully implemented.
Recent reports indicate that some Armenian citizens have been denied entry to EU countries despite holding valid Schengen visas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed these denials to instances where Armenian travelers altered their travel plans after receiving their visas. Specifically, some individuals were found to have canceled hotel bookings and changed itineraries for the country where they initially applied for the Schengen visa.
However, many Armenian nationals have refuted these claims, arguing that the changes in their travel plans are not the cause of their denied entry into EU member states. Additionally, a growing number of Armenians have expressed concerns over prolonged waiting times for obtaining Schengen visas, further complicating their travel arrangements.
