Armenia calls on EU to address visa issuance problems

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has described the visa issuance process by European Union (EU) member states for Armenian citizens as a serious concern. Speaking in the National Assembly, he emphasized that the current procedures are problematic.

"We are drawing the attention of our EU member state partners, especially those represented in Yerevan, to this issue," Mirzoyan stated, as reported by Aysor.am .

According to the minister, the reasons provided for visa denials range from technical to financial. "There are exceptional cases where we believe the treatment of our citizens is not respectful. In most cases, however, we have no objections; these are their procedures, and ultimately, it's their decision," he noted.

Mirzoyan acknowledged the legitimacy of the problem and identified the completion of the visa liberalization process as the best solution. He emphasized that Armenia has its part to play in this endeavor.

The European Commission and Armenia have announced the initiation of a dialogue on visa liberalization. The goal is to establish a visa-free regime for short-term visits to EU countries, ensuring effective mobility management and security.

The process will be based on a merit- and progress-based approach, meaning it will take as long as necessary without assuming an automatic transition to visa-free travel. All benchmarks must be fully met before the EU Council and European Parliament can make a final decision on visa liberalization.