Armenia and the European Union finalized on Thursday an agreement to ease visa requirements for Armenian citizens planning to visit EU countries.
Stefano Manservisi, head of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Home Affairs, and Avet Adonts, the Armenian ambassador to the EU, also initialed a separate “readmission” agreement in Brussels. It obligates Yerevan to help EU immigration authorities quickly expedite the repatriation of Armenian illegal immigrants.
The agreements were announced after three rounds of negotiations between Armenian and EU officials that opened in Yerevan in February.
The EU official also confirmed that the deal paves the way for future visa-free travel of Armenians to EU countries.
Armenia unilaterally lifted its visa requirements for EU nationals two weeks ago. Starting from next year, they will be allowed to stay in the country visa-free for up to 90 days.
Armenian officials said this move should, among other things, encourage the EU not to link the entry into force of the more liberal visa regime with Armenia with the signing of a similar deal with Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government’s visa facilitation talks with Brussels are currently at a less advanced stage.
Visa facilitation will be a key element of an “association agreement” between the EU and Armenia, which is being negotiated by the two sides as part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. Another crucial component of that far-reaching agreement is the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Yerevan’s separate talks with Brussels on the DCFTA began in June.
The Armenian government hopes that the entire association accord will be finalized before the end of next year.
