The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Armenia have officially commenced a visa liberalization dialogue, marking a significant step towards a visa-free regime for short-term travel between the two entities.

The dialogue, announced Monday, aims to support Armenia in meeting the necessary conditions for well-managed mobility and security, paving the way for visa-free travel to the EU. This initiative builds upon the existing EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the successful implementation of the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements.

The visa liberalization process will focus on areas such as document security, border and migration management, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and upholding fundamental rights. The EU and Armenia will work closely to ensure the dialogue is conducted efficiently, with progress monitored rigorously.

The launch of the dialogue follows several initiatives aimed at strengthening EU-Armenia relations, including the European Commission's Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia, which aims to build up the country's socio-economic resilience.

The EU and Armenia expressed their commitment to working together to achieve the goal of visa-free travel, emphasizing the importance of meeting all necessary benchmarks before a final decision is made by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. (ILKHA)