On March 12, Armenia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan received Magnus Brunner, the European Union’s Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, in Yerevan.
Welcoming the guest, Minister Sargsyan noted that this is the first time an EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration has visited Armenia, emphasizing the importance of assessing bilateral cooperation and the progress achieved so far.
As Armenia’s chief negotiator in the Armenia–EU visa liberalization process, Sargsyan reaffirmed that the Armenian government is fully committed to implementing the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP) in its entirety. She stressed that the plan aligns closely with the government’s broader reform agenda in the sector.
According to the Minister, the measures envisaged by the program are already at various stages of implementation, including initiatives related to migration and border management, as well as reforms in the fields of law enforcement and justice. She also highlighted that since the launch of the dialogue, Armenia has received the Action Plan in a remarkably short timeframe compared to comparable countries. This was followed by coordinated efforts among relevant agencies, under the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to achieve targeted and timely results.
Commissioner Brunner commended the efforts undertaken to liberalize the mobility of Armenian citizens to EU member states, noting that Armenia’s strong political will and the resources invested in this direction are already visible and appreciated. He expressed confidence that Armenia’s readiness to ensure high-quality, targeted, and timely progress will lead to the expected outcome.
Minister Sargsyan also emphasized that Armenia values the European Union’s efforts aimed at managing migration flows. In the context of visa liberalization, she noted that special importance is being attached to reducing irregular migration from Armenia to EU countries and promoting responsible and well-informed migration behavior.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the European Union for its continued support and for maintaining an active negotiation process exclusively with Armenia. She also reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to continue practical cooperation at a high level.
