Minister: EU visa liberalization action plan expected soon

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia continues its collaboration with the European Union on reforms and visa liberalization, with a concrete action plan expected soon.

On February 25, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan participated in the fourth session of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of the established cooperation platform, which facilitates experience exchange and outlines future steps.

The minister highlighted the launch of the practical phase of the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue, stressing that it is not merely a symbolic process.

"In this phase of the visa liberalization dialogue, we are moving beyond discussions to a practical stage, meaning concrete steps have already been taken, and there is a commitment to continue working in this direction," Sargsyan stated.

She added that the first step has already been taken, with several technical issues discussed with an EU technical mission, and a second mission is expected soon.

"As per initial planning, we will soon have an action plan that will allow Armenia to introduce high modern standards aimed at improving people's livelihoods in various sectors," she said.

Regarding the activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sargsyan stated that the ministry aims to ensure parliamentary and civil oversight, particularly in law enforcement. She emphasized that personnel policies are being developed in collaboration with the EU to improve public services.

Speaking about migration policy, the minister noted that institutional reforms have merged passport issuance, visa processing, and migration-related functions, aligning with international best practices. Simultaneously, a new strategic document is being developed to define the state's migration policy.

Sargsyan also addressed the protection of biometric data in Armenia, underscoring that "Our transparent and open competition demonstrates that Armenia has adopted high standards in both personal and biometric data protection."

Regarding police reforms, she noted significant achievements recognized by both local and international partners. According to EU-supported surveys, 72% of respondents either trust the police or hold a neutral stance.

She highlighted the expansion of the Patrol Service nationwide and the establishment of a unified operational management center, which will enable rapid responses to citizen reports. Additionally, she noted that cooperation with parliamentary colleagues resulted in the adoption of the Law on the Police Guard, setting new standards for the right to peaceful assembly.

Discussing the 2024-2026 police reform strategy, Sargsyan said it was developed based on the experience of the previous strategy, independent expert assessments, discussions with civil society, and youth engagement.

In the context of public security, she addressed the development of a new crime prevention strategy and emphasized ongoing efforts to appoint a liaison officer at Europol, a crucial step for international crime-fighting cooperation.

Regarding disaster risk management, the minister stated that the EU continues to provide expert support, which will enhance civil protection mechanisms. She also highlighted the EU-supported post-disaster assessment processes in Lori and Tavush regions.

Reforms are also expected in the Rescue Service, including structural transformations and new approaches to disaster risk management. Sargsyan expressed hope that EU-backed projects would bring tangible progress in this sector.

Concluding her speech, Arpine Sargsyan thanked EU partners for their close cooperation.