Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan participated in the sixth session of the EU–Armenia Partnership Council in Brussels.
The meeting highlighted recent progress in Armenia–EU cooperation and the outcomes of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Declarations by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos were also emphasized.
A key topic was the European Commission’s transfer of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) to Armenia. Participants stressed that once the criteria set in the plan are fulfilled, Armenian citizens will have easier access to the EU.
Within the Council’s framework, Ghazaryan presented the steps Armenia has taken toward visa liberalisation and outlined upcoming plans. He detailed the status of the first phase, focusing on legal and policy reforms, and addressed all four components of the VLAP.
Ghazaryan also spoke about ongoing police reforms, highlighting the full implementation of four major pillars. He discussed human rights protection, crime prevention, disaster risk management mechanisms, and strategic reforms in the Rescue Service.
Special focus was placed on ensuring the continuity of reforms, strengthening institutional capacity, and involving civil society.
Participants also discussed regional peacebuilding efforts and Armenia’s strategy for expanding transit and connectivity.
While in Brussels, Ghazaryan met with Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission. They discussed the implementation of the VLAP, issues arising from it, and the introduction of a new biometric system.
On December 2, Armenia and the European Union signed a Strategic Partnership Agenda following the sixth session of the EU–Armenia Partnership Council. The document was signed by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
