2024-09-11 06:28:32
EU and Armenia start visa-free talks PHOTO: Pixabay
The European Commission has announced that it is starting negotiations with Armenia to introduce a visa-free regime. Citizens of Armenia are expected to be granted visa-free travel to the EU when staying for up to 90 days.
The commission notes that there has been “significant progress” in bilateral relations since the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Yerevan in 2017. It is planned that the visa negotiations will be accompanied by changes in the issuance of personal documents for Armenian citizens, with improvements in border and migration management, in the fight against corruption and organized crime, while respecting basic human rights, writes BTA.
Since 2014, the EU has introduced a relaxed regime for issuing visas to citizens of Armenia. All EU citizens travel without a visa to Armenia, adds the EC.
The negotiations will continue as necessary, there will be no automatic transition to visa-free travel for Armenians, the commission adds. All indicators must be fully met before the Council of the EU votes on a final decision to waive visas and this decision is confirmed by the European Parliament, the announcement states.
In April this year, the EC presented a plan to improve Armenia’s economy worth 270 million euros by 2027.