Armenia and EU Deepen Dialogue on Visa Liberalisation as Action Plan Nears Completion

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Armenia, Arpine Sargsyan, recently held talks with Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, to discuss the advancing visa liberalisation process between Armenia and the European Union. The meeting reflected the growing depth of EU-Armenia cooperation, which, according to Ambassador Maragos, “is continually encompassing new areas.”

In addition to the visa issue, the meeting also touched on joint programs in the areas of law enforcement and rescue services, as noted in a report by Armen Press, further illustrating the expanding scope of collaboration between Yerevan and Brussels.

The EU-Armenia visa liberalisation action plan is scheduled to be finalised by June this year, according to statements made in April by Nelly Davtyan, head of the Migration and Citizenship Service at Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Davtyan underlined that, based on the precedent set by other countries that have previously reached similar agreements with the EU, Armenia can make informed predictions about what will be required to fulfil the criteria.

“The action plan will be developed by June, and it will no longer be a negotiable document,” Davtyan stated. “As much as we picture what the document is going to say based on the experience of other countries, we will be able to make concrete predictions about the requirements under the defined targets when we have the document.”

Among the essential obligations for Armenia in this process is the implementation of biometric passport systems and the issuance of new identification cards. Davtyan confirmed that these developments form part of the core framework needed to satisfy EU expectations on secure document standards.

Support for Armenia’s visa liberalisation ambitions has also come from within the bloc. Last month, Greek Ambassador to Armenia Christos Sofianopoulos offered Greece’s full backing for the initiative. Speaking after a meeting with Minister Sargsyan, Sofianopoulos affirmed that “the Hellenic Republic fully supports Armenia’s visa liberalisation process with the bloc.”

During their discussion, Minister Sargsyan pointed to the significance of the partnership between Armenia and EU member states, stressing the importance of enhancing collaboration to deepen ties. She emphasized that increased engagement would serve to fortify the relationship and advance shared goals.

Looking ahead, Armenia is preparing for the rollout of biometric passports and ID cards in the first half of 2026. This step will mark a critical milestone in Armenia’s journey toward visa-free travel with the European Union, and could significantly advance the broader integration process with Europe.

As Armenia moves to meet the EU’s technical and legal benchmarks, the tone from both sides suggests growing optimism. With the action plan on track for completion and support from member states like Greece, the foundation is being laid for the next chapter in Armenia-EU relations.

By fLEXI tEAM