The European Commission has officially delivered its visa liberalization roadmap to Armenia, marking a major step toward granting Armenian citizens visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen Area.
The handover took place in Yerevan on Wednesday, where Johannes Lochner, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs at the European Commission, presented the document to Arpine Sargsyan, Armenia’s Minister of the Interior.
The move follows the launch of visa liberalization talks in September 2024, as Armenia continues to strengthen its ties with the West and deepen cooperation with European institutions.
“The roadmap includes a comprehensive set of benchmarks across several sectors — from security and border management to human rights — which are expected to be achieved over the coming years,” Lochner said during the ceremony.
Minister Sargsyan welcomed the plan, describing it as “a crucial step that will significantly impact the lives of Armenian citizens and ensure that, in the context of visa liberalization, they will have the opportunity to travel with dignity across EU member states.”
Before obtaining visa-free status, the EU requires partner countries to meet strict criteria covering four key areas: border management, migration and asylum policy, public order and security, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Countries such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine previously followed similar paths, completing these requirements before securing visa-free travel for their citizens within the EU.
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