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Armenia and the European Union announced the start of visa liberalization talks, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mger Grigoryan said after a meeting with Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas in Yerevan on Tuesday.

"Armenia attaches great importance to the beginning of the visa liberalization dialogue, realizing that it will take consistent and focused efforts. We see this process as a strategic agenda on the modernization of migration, people’s movements and border management," Grigoryan said.

This process aims to support Armenia in achieving a visa-free regime for short-stays with the EU, provided that the relevant conditions for well-managed mobility and security are put in place.

The visa dialogue is part of the broader framework of EU-Armenia relations, which has seen significant progress since the signing of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2017. The dialogue will sustain ongoing efforts to support Armenia’s comprehensive reform agenda, particularly in areas which are crucial for future visa-free travel to the EU, such as document security, border and migration management, the fight against corruption and organised crime as well as upholding fundamental rights.

The dialogue builds on the successful implementation of the EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, which have simplified travel procedures for many Armenian citizens since 1 January 2014. Currently, all EU citizens are exempt from visa requirement when entering Armenia.