Armenia one step closer to easier EU visa access

The European Commission is ready to negotiate with Armenia to make it easier for its citizens to acquire European Union visas, the bloc's enlargement commissioner announced Monday, dpa reported. The move must be approved by EU member states before the talks can get underway.

Armenia aspires to eventually set up a free trade area with the EU as part of an association agreement launched between the two sides last year.

"We are ready to continue providing our support to advance the ambitious agenda of internal reforms in the country," Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said in Brussels. "The more it embarks on this reform process, the more support will come from the EU."

He had earlier met with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who presented him with more than 30 proposed reforms.

"We are very grateful to our EU colleagues for appreciating the performance to date," Sargysan told reporters. "We are fully capable of delivering on all of our commitments."

The announcement came 10 days before the EU is to hold a summit with Armenia and the five other countries in its Eastern Partnership, which is aimed at boosting economic and political cooperation with former Soviet countries.

The summit in the Polish capital Warsaw will "create an important momentum to bring the countries of the Eastern Partnership even closer to the EU," Fule said.


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