EU VISA FACILITATION AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ARMENIA
ARMRADIO.AM
14:35 12.11.20120
On 12 November 2012, the EU Advisory Group, in cooperation with the EU
Delegation to Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
conducted a seminar entitled "EU Visa Facilitation for Armenia". The
purpose of the seminar was to inform media representatives and selected
civil society organizations about the benefits for Armenian citizens
from the up-coming EU Visa Facilitation Agreement.
The EU and Armenia initialled the Visa Facilitation Agreement on
18 October 2012 in Brussels. This agreement typically provides
procedural facilitations for nationals of specific country without
altering the conditions for issuing visas (i.e. the visa applicant
must still satisfy the entry conditions).
The Head of EU Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia emphasized the importance of VFA in the overall context of
EU-Armenia relations noting that it will pave the way towards enhanced
people to people contacts. He also noted that a dialogue on the visa
liberalization for the Armenian citizens will follow the successful
implementation of the Agreement.
"We welcome the substantial progress in the negotiations on the
Visa Facilitation Agreement. Easier access to visas will improve
cooperation and exchanges between EU and Armenia," stressed the Head
of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, noting the
importance of effectively implementing the agreement.
Visa facilitation between the EU and Armenia would entail the
simplification of documentary evidence in support of the visa
application, reducing the visa fee to 35 Euro and waiving it for
specific categories of travellers, reduced processing time of all
visa applications and the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas
with a long period of validity. The eligible categories of travellers
include journalists, students, participants in cultural, artistic and
sport exchanges, civil society organizations and persons travelling
for medical reasons and others. The Visa Facilitation Agreement does
not regulate conditions related to biometric passports.
The seminar also touched upon the links between the Visa Facilitation
Agreement with the closely related EU Readmission Agreement and the
role of the EU Schengen Consulates in the implementation of the Visa
Facilitation Agreement.
ARMRADIO.AM
14:35 12.11.20120
On 12 November 2012, the EU Advisory Group, in cooperation with the EU
Delegation to Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
conducted a seminar entitled "EU Visa Facilitation for Armenia". The
purpose of the seminar was to inform media representatives and selected
civil society organizations about the benefits for Armenian citizens
from the up-coming EU Visa Facilitation Agreement.
The EU and Armenia initialled the Visa Facilitation Agreement on
18 October 2012 in Brussels. This agreement typically provides
procedural facilitations for nationals of specific country without
altering the conditions for issuing visas (i.e. the visa applicant
must still satisfy the entry conditions).
The Head of EU Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia emphasized the importance of VFA in the overall context of
EU-Armenia relations noting that it will pave the way towards enhanced
people to people contacts. He also noted that a dialogue on the visa
liberalization for the Armenian citizens will follow the successful
implementation of the Agreement.
"We welcome the substantial progress in the negotiations on the
Visa Facilitation Agreement. Easier access to visas will improve
cooperation and exchanges between EU and Armenia," stressed the Head
of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, noting the
importance of effectively implementing the agreement.
Visa facilitation between the EU and Armenia would entail the
simplification of documentary evidence in support of the visa
application, reducing the visa fee to 35 Euro and waiving it for
specific categories of travellers, reduced processing time of all
visa applications and the possibility of issuing multiple-entry visas
with a long period of validity. The eligible categories of travellers
include journalists, students, participants in cultural, artistic and
sport exchanges, civil society organizations and persons travelling
for medical reasons and others. The Visa Facilitation Agreement does
not regulate conditions related to biometric passports.
The seminar also touched upon the links between the Visa Facilitation
Agreement with the closely related EU Readmission Agreement and the
role of the EU Schengen Consulates in the implementation of the Visa
Facilitation Agreement.