EU and Armenia Initiate Visa Liberalisation Discussions

Charlie Immigration updates 16 September 2024 | Updated On September 23, 2024 | 0

On September 9, the European Commission (EU) and the Republic of Armenia announced the launch of a long-anticipated visa liberalisation dialogue, marking a significant milestone in EU-Armenia relations. This dialogue is intended to pave the way for visa-free short-stay travel for Armenian citizens to the Schengen Area, contingent on Armenia's compliance with essential conditions, including well-managed mobility, robust security measures, and adherence to European standards.

The visa liberalisation dialogue is a crucial component of the broader EU-Armenia partnership, which has grown significantly since the signing of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2017.

Through this dialogue, Armenia will continue to align with EU standards by implementing reforms in key areas such as:

Document Security: Ensuring secure and verifiable travel and identification documents.
Border and Migration Management: Strengthening border controls to prevent illegal migration and enhance cross-border cooperation.
Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Initiatives: Enhancing efforts to combat organised crime, corruption, and other security threats.
Human Rights and Rule of Law: Upholding democratic principles, judicial reform, and the protection of fundamental rights.

This initiative follows the successful implementation of the EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, which have simplified travel for Armenian citizens since their introduction on January 1, 2014.

Under the new dialogue, the European Commission and the Armenian government will collaborate closely, with both sides working toward fulfilling stringent benchmarks necessary for visa liberalisation.

Merit-Based Progress: No Automatic Visa-Free Travel

While the initiation of the dialogue marks a significant step, progress toward visa-free travel will be merit-based, with no automatic guarantee of success.

The pace of the process depends on Armenia's ability to meet the necessary benchmarks in areas such as border management, migration policies, and anti-corruption measures. Each stage of progress will be carefully monitored by the EU and its Member States, and the final decision will be made by the European Council and European Parliament. Until then, Armenian citizens will continue to require visas for travel to the EU.

Strategic Importance of EU-Armenia Relations

Armenia’s strategic location in the South Caucasus has long made it a focal point of the EU’s efforts to strengthen ties with Eastern Partnership countries. Armenia is the only country in the Caucasus making significant strides towards deeper integration with the EU. This aligns with the EU’s broader goal of fostering stability and security in the region, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

In April 2024, the European Commission proposed a €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia, set to run from 2024 to 2027. This initiative is designed to support Armenia’s socio-economic development, enhance governance, and strengthen resilience in the face of external pressures. Additionally, on July 22, the EU Foreign Affairs Council approved a €10 million support measure under the European Peace Facility to bolster the Armenian Armed Forces’ capacity.

These steps underline the EU’s long-term commitment to Armenia, not only in economic and political terms but also in terms of security cooperation. During a high-level meeting in April 2024 in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, discussed the EU’s continued support for Armenia in the face of regional challenges.

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