Armenia Initiates Visa Liberalisation Talks with the EU.
The Armenian government, led by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, held its inaugural meeting of a working group focused on visa liberalisation with the European Union.
During the meeting, officials outlined the necessary steps Armenia must take to secure a visa-free travel agreement with the EU, as reported by Schengen.News. The working group will coordinate actions and commitments related to the visa liberalisation process. However, specific details from this initial meeting have not been disclosed.
A visa liberalisation agreement with the EU is crucial for Armenia, as currently, all Armenian passport holders must obtain a valid Schengen visa to enter EU countries. If the agreement is established, Armenians will be able to travel to the EU without a visa for short visits.
Once the agreement is in place, Armenians can visit the EU for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without needing to go through the Schengen visa application process. However, those wishing to stay in the EU for longer than three months will still need to apply for a long-term visa.
Political-Level Dialogue Launched in September
In September, the EU and Armenia began discussions at the political level regarding visa liberalisation. EU officials noted that this dialogue signifies a willingness to strengthen ties with Armenia. However, Armenia must fulfill certain conditions before its citizens can enjoy visa-free entry to the EU.
One concern for the EU is the potential rise in irregular migration from Armenia to EU member states following the visa liberalisation agreement. Armenia has addressed these worries, assuring the EU that it will not lead to increased migration. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently emphasized that Armenia has taken all necessary measures to mitigate such concerns and affirmed that Armenians do not wish to leave their homeland.
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