MIA: Modern challenges require comprehensive border management

ArmInfo. On June 29, Arpine Sargsyan, Armenia's Minister of Internal Affairs and chief negotiator for the EU-RA visa liberalization process, participated in  a roundtable discussion titled "Border Management Reforms and Border  Guard Training: Lessons from  EU Approaches," organized in  cooperation with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance  (DCAF) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Internal  Affairs, Sargsyan noted that comprehensive border management reforms  are a priority for the government and, concurrently, a key pillar of  the Armenia-EU visa liberalization process. She stated that modern  security challenges—such as illegal migration, transnational  organized crime, human trafficking, document forgery, and emerging  threats— require integrated and coordinated solutions.  The Minister  emphasized that Armenia continues to modernize its internal security  and border management systems, drawing upon best European practices,  the reform experiences of partner countries, and international  cooperation.

Recall, negotiations on visa liberalization between Armenia and the  European Union were launched in December 2024. The negotiations have  been led by Armenian Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan and  Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home  Affairs at the European Commission. Key areas of cooperation include  essential reforms required to achieve a visa-free regime with the EU,  such as document security, border and migration management, mobility  and asylum policy, anti-corruption and anti-organized crime efforts,  and the protection of fundamental human rights. At the time, both  sides reaffirmed that the process does not have a fixed deadline for  completion. On November 5, the EU presented Armenia with a visa  liberalization action plan.