In a new phase for Armenia’s European integration, the European Commission has officially presented the EU–Armenia Visa Liberalization Action Plan to the Armenian government. The handover ceremony, held on November 5 in Yerevan, brought together senior Armenian and EU officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos, and Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, who presented the plan to Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan.
Armenia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, who also serves as the Senior Official for the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, delivered a joint press conference with Luchner on this occasion.
During the press conference, the both sides highlighted the achievements recorded since the launch of the visa liberalization dialogue in September 2024, noting that the official handover of the Action Plan reflects the strength of Armenia–EU cooperation and shared commitment to the process.
Armenia’s Vision and Commitments
Minister Sargsyan called the handover a “historic step” toward implementing the visa liberalization dialogue, underscoring that it represents the first tangible outcome of sustained joint efforts between Armenia and the EU.
“Indeed, we are witnessing a historic event today, because, ultimately, within the framework of the visa liberalization dialogue, we are taking the first tangible step, which is the result of joint efforts. Today, the Visa Liberalization Action Plan for the Republic of Armenia has been officially handed over to the Armenian side. In this context, I would like to emphasize with great responsibility that today the Republic of Armenia is the only country engaged in continuous dialogue with the EU on the topic of visa liberalization,” Sargsyan stated.
She noted that the Action Plan is fully aligned with Armenia’s reform agenda and includes measures that will directly benefit Armenian citizens by ensuring dignified, safe, and facilitated travel opportunities to EU member states. The plan outlines reforms across multiple sectors, including migration management, asylum systems, border security, public safety, human rights, document security, and the fight against corruption and organized crime.
Reaffirming Armenia’s readiness to continue effective and high-quality implementation, Sargsyan stressed that the process is not merely technical but values-based, representing an opportunity to strengthen Armenia’s integration into the European family.
“The Republic of Armenia has ensured, and will continue to ensure, high-quality work within the framework of the visa liberalization dialogue with the European Union,” Sargsyan said. “This is also a crucial opportunity to strengthen human, economic, cultural, and educational connections between Armenia and the European Union.”
She expressed gratitude to Johannes Luchner and the EU Delegation in Armenia for their cooperation and support, emphasizing that the handover demonstrates the quality of joint efforts and the bilateral commitment to continue until full visa liberalization is achieved.
“The plan includes a range of objectives across various sectors, from security to human rights, goals that are to be achieved in the coming years,” Luchner said at the press conference.
Luchner praised Armenia’s rapid progress toward visa liberalization, noting that the country has advanced through preparatory stages “at the fastest pace” among those involved in similar processes. He commended the government’s effective coordination of reforms and reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to continue close cooperation to make the plan’s objectives a reality.
He emphasized that the visa liberalization dialogue will remain open-ended and continue for as long as necessary to ensure that all reform benchmarks are fully met.
“It will last as long as necessary for the reforms to achieve their intended goals,” Luchner said. “Both the EU and Armenia are committed to ensuring that the process is not only fast but also of high quality.”
The EU official explained that the Action Plan’s implementation consists of two phases: the first involves adopting legislative changes and new legal acts, while the second focuses on their practical enforcement. Luchner also announced that the EU will send expert teams to Armenia to assess progress on the ground and prepare detailed progress reports across different areas of reform.
“Our expert teams will travel to Armenia to examine the situation across different areas and prepare progress reports. The program consists of two phases: the first concerns legislative changes and the adoption of legal acts, while the second focuses on their practical implementation,” he noted.
He added that Armenian authorities have already achieved several key reforms at a notable pace, particularly through the introduction of the biometric passport system, which the EU has recognized as a successful step. According to Luchner, the system is expected to become operational by early next year.
Government and Institutional Support
Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Action Plan, outlining both the reforms already undertaken and those planned for the near future. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the successes achieved over the past year that paved the way for the handover.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Davit Karapetyan also met with the EU delegation led by Luchner. He welcomed the presentation of the Action Plan and highlighted Armenia’s determination to implement it effectively. Karapetyan noted that the plan aligns with Armenia’s democratic reform agenda and the government’s commitment to fostering mobility, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties. He also announced the creation of a new European Integration Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support these efforts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs additionally pointed to the Law on Launching the Accession Process of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union, presented to Parliament as a civil initiative, along with the adoption of Armenia’s EU Integration Act earlier this year. Together, these steps reflect growing public and institutional momentum toward closer alignment with European structures and Armenia’s deepening commitment to European values and democratic reforms.
EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos has previously highlighted that Armenia is currently the only country with which the EU is conducting a visa liberalization dialogue, an acknowledgment of Armenia’s growing importance as a reliable and reform-driven partner to the EU.
