Commission launches a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia

Following yesterday’s acknowledgement by the Foreign Affairs Council, the Commission is launching a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia. This process will support Armenia in its long-term goal to achieve a visa-free regime with the EU.  

The dialogue will lead to reforms in substantial areas including the security of travel documents, border management, migration and asylum, public order, external relations and fundamental rights issues in Armenia. The Commission will monitor progress in these areas rigorously, in close collaboration with the European Parliament and the Council. The dialogue will be conducted under a Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) that following discussion in the Council will be presented to the Armenian authorities. Visa liberalisation is not an automatic process. It will be considered only once the dialogue is successfully completed and all the conditions listed in the VLAP are met. Once the dialogue is successfully completed, it will be easier and less costly for Armenian citizens to travel to Europe for short-term stays (less than 90 days in any 180-day period). Armenian citizens already enjoy the benefits of a visa facilitation agreement with the EU since 1 January 2014.  

The launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue is a follow up to several initiatives to strengthen cooperation with Armenia in the framework of the EU's Eastern Partnership, including the 2021 Eastern Partnership Summit, which considered the possibility of launching new visa liberalisation dialogues, once the conditions were met. The Eastern Partnership was established in 2009, to enhance relations with neighboring countries. The EU and Armenia are taking forward a new and ambitious Partnership Agenda, following the meeting on 5 April 2024 between President von der Leyen, High Representative Josep Borrell and Prime Minister Pashinyan.