YEREVAN. – The delegations from Armenia and the European Union (EU) have virtually ended their talks with respecting to changing the visa requirement procedure, stated Onno Simons, Acting Head of Operations of the EU Delegation to Armenia, during a press conference on Friday.   

In his words, a relaxed visa requirement procedure with the EU, together with a less cost for being issued visas, could start by mid-2013.     

The talks to this effect are conducted along the lines of the preparations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Armenia and the EU. As per Simons, in order to conduct free trade with the EU, however, Armenia needs to bring its production conditions closer to European norms. Also, sanitary and phytosanitary norms are underscored. 

The EU official also pointed to the need for creating a climate of free competition in Armenia.