Armenia sees regress on visa facilitation with EU

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan has pointed out considerable regress in the matter of facilitation of the visa regime with the European Union (EU).

“There has been a considerable regress in the matter of facilitation of the visa regime with the European Union,” Hovhannisyan said during the discussions of the report on the progress and results of the 2023 implementation of the 2021-2026 program of the Armenian government at the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly, TASS reports.

"Unfortunately, there is one domain, one problem in which the desired result was not achieved. The work with the EU was unprecedentedly intensive and progress was made in all directions. But in one matter, both in the relations with the EU and individual members of the Union, the situation is far from being positive. This is the visa issue," Hovhannisyan said.

According to him, work has been done in this regard at all levels, but it cannot be said that progress has been made.

"On the contrary, a considerable regress has been recorded; even for [Armenia’s] students traveling [to Europe] with the Erasmus program—although it is expected that they should not have problems. It’s also about some [Armenian] officials. In addition, we receive many complaints from [Armenian] citizens," the deputy FM added.