Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will be in Yerevan, Armenia on 9 Sep 2024 for the launch at the political level of a dialogue on visa liberalization.
Vice-President Schinas will be seated with the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan to examine the launch of the visa liberalization discussion and other aspects of the EU-Partnership Agenda.
Margaritis Schinas has said, “The launch of the dialogue on visa liberalization – at the political level with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan – is a powerful signal by the EU and its Member States of their determination to deepen the already solid partnership between the EU and Armenia.”
How Will Visa Liberalization Affect EU-Armenia Relations?
Moreover, the European Commission says this dialogue seeks to eventually lift the visa obligation for citizens of Armenia for short-term stays in the EU once the Armenian authorities have executed substantial reforms in critical areas such as security of travel documents, border, migration, and asylum management, public order and security, and fundamental rights linked to the freedom of movement. As the understanding with other third countries has shown, this dialogue with Armenia will be a multi-year process that will be undertaken in very close cooperation with EU Member States to monitor reform progress and developments.”
During his visit, the Vice President will also contend in a discussion with the students of Yerevan State University on the substantial improvement in EU-Armenia relations recently and the opportunities for their further deepening based on shared values
How Does the EU Plan to Strengthen Ties with Armenia?
The European Union and Armenia have dedicated themselves to working together for the benefit of the citizens of Armenia and the European Union, to assist in the strengthening of democracy and political, economic, and institutional stability. Both sides are dedicated to promoting, preserving, and maintaining peace and stability at regional and international levels and to improving cooperation in the area of freedom, security, and justice thus strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has superseded the EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (1999) and delivers a solid basis to further improve the reform agenda in areas of mutual interest. Armenia and the EU persist in their political and trade dialogue in areas where it is consistent with Armenia’s new obligations to the Eurasian Economic Union.
