Arpine Sargsyan and Marta Kos Discuss Dynamic Progress on EU Visa Liberalization

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Armenia, Arpine Sargsyan, met with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that welcoming Commissioner Kos's visit to Armenia, the minister highly appreciated the close cooperation established with the EU, which continues to develop and encompass new areas.

Discussing the EU visa liberalization process, the chief negotiator from Armenia, Arpine Sargsyan, mentioned the positive impact of the work carried out by EU missions visiting Armenia on the progress of actions undertaken. She also presented details regarding the implementation of a biometric system, as well as the steps taken by the Armenian government in border management, the reintegration of displaced persons, and migration policy.

Commissioner Kos emphasized the importance of reforms being carried out within the internal affairs system of the Republic of Armenia, highlighting the EU's ongoing support in their implementation. She noted the EU's support of over 200 million euros, which will include assistance across various sectors, as a key pillar of the Armenia-EU cooperation, particularly the EU visa liberalization process.

The commissioner praised the coordinating role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs within the framework of the visa liberalization dialogue, noting that the action plan is in its finalization phase. Arpine Sargsyan also expressed gratitude for the approval of the “AEGIS” program, which envisions an investment of about 4.5 million euros aimed at modernizing the Emergency Service and Police.

During the meeting, discussions were held regarding the progress of reforms being carried out in various sectors, the alignment of the financial and operational components of the “Resilience and Development Plan,” as well as other issues of mutual interest. Both parties reaffirmed their willingness to continue and expand cooperation, including joint efforts towards EU visa liberalization.