YEREVAN. – An agreement to simplify visa requirements between Armenia and the European Union is the first step towards a visa-free regime, former policy advisor on migration at the EU Advisory Group in Armenia Eleonora Vergeer  told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

She noted that the previously signed Armenia-EU visa facilitation agreement is associated with the Agreement on readmission.

“Only a year after the two agreements came into force, we can assess whether their implementation was successful. After that Armenia will be able to start a dialogue with the European Union in connection with the launch of a visa-free regime. From this perspective, the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission are of great importance,” the expert said. 

Eleonora Vergeer stressed that approximately in a year Armenia will be able to start a dialogue with the EU on visa-free regime that is a long process. For example, Moldova began negotiations in 2010, and only 4 years later the visa-free regime is applied.

“Nevertheless, the visa-free regime is the next step for Armenia. This is stated in the preamble to the agreement on visa facilitation: there is a suggestion that both the EU and Armenia are working towards a visa-free regime in the long term. Consequently, both sides have political commitment to the liberalization of visa regime,” the expert emphasized.

The agreements on visa facilitation and readmission between Armenia and the EU entered into force on 1 January 2014 .