European Commission approves visa regime facilitation talks with Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - On September 20, Gunnar Wiegand, European Commission's Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia and Regional Cooperation, met with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to discuss preparation for the Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Warsaw in late September.

Mr. Wiegand told journalists in Yerevan that heads of 27 EU countries led by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will meet with President of Armenia and of Eastern Partnership participant states.

“The European Commission has already approved the decision on starting visa regime facilitation talks with Armenia. The declaration-to be-adopted next week in Warsaw will highlight this too,” he said, adding that the European Commission is still to officially agree on starting talks, but “we are sure to get that agreement, which will enable in the coming months to kick off talks.”

According to Mr. Wiegand, the new regime envisages visa cost reduction for the citizens paying short-term visits to EU countries. For frequent visitors, visa regime will be considerably facilitated.

Yerevan hosts the 12th meeting of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Committee co-chaired by Armenia’s Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan and Gunnar Wiegand.

The Eastern Partnership summit of heads of states and governments of EU countries and the Eastern Partnership countries will be held in Warsaw on September 29-30. An assessment of the achievements to date, and the increase of EU commitment to its Eastern partners will be the main aim of the summit. The summit should increase the pace of further improvement of mutual relations and of EU integration. During the summit there will be an informal dinner, two plenary sessions, and a common declaration will be signed.