ArmInfo. The main parameters for the start of the discussion process on visa liberalization with the EU have not changed. This was stated by head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski on February 26 at a press conference in Yerevan.
According to the European diplomat, Armenia is taking concrete steps in this direction. However, as the Ambassador pointed out, it must be remembered that the question has both political and practical sides. According to the diplomat, the EU member states should express their position on the issue. "We are guided by a political statement enshrined in the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which says that dialogue is possible with well-managed and safe mechanisms for moving people," said Piotr Switalski.
According to the diplomat, during the next round in April 2018, the Armenian side was informed about the concerns of individual EU members regarding the issue of migration. "Based on this, I cannot name any deadlines now. European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and EU Expansion Johannes Hahn and EU Head of Diplomacy Federica Mogherini are positive about starting a dialogue. But it will be possible if stable guarantees are provided for the safe movement of citizens within the EU, " Ambassador Switalski said.
To note, at the beginning of February of this year Chairman of the Standing Committee on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan, referring to the process of liberalizing the visa regime with the European Union, stressed that he slowed down for a number of objective reasons: "In particular, elections to the European Parliament are to be held in May," said the head of the committe. To the remark that the previous authorities of Armenia provided for two years for the process of visa liberalization, the deputy replied: "I can't mark a clear deadline, as it will be associated with a number of factors that I cannot predict right now. No one can say how fast the process will progress after the elections to the European Parliament, or how fast we will be able to implement the relevant reforms. "