Johannes Hahn hopes that process on launching new round of talks on visa liberalization with Armenia will finish soon

ArmInfo. Commissioner for  European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes  Hahn hopes that the process on launching new round of negotiators on  visa liberalization with Armenia will finish soon.

He noted that in order to launch the new round of negotiations all  the 28 countries members of the EU should give their consent, some of  them have already agreed. 

Preparatory work on this issue has not finished yet, Hahn stated at  the press conference on the results of the 8th non-official meeting  of European Partnership countries' foreign ministers.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in turn expressed hope  that the new round of negotiators between Armenia and the EU on visa  liberalization will be launched soon. 

To note, on December 17, 2012 visa regime facilitation agreement was  signed between Armenia and EU, which came into force on January 1,  2014. The agreement quickened the procedure of issuing visas in the  consulates of EU countries, accredited to Armenia.  The decision on  issuing visa is made within 10 days and in emergency situations  within two or less days. Besides, according to the agreement fewer  documents are needed for receiving visa. After the signing of  agreement the price of visa fell to 35 EUR versus 60 EUR, which the  tourists had to pay prior to the ratification of the document.   Another advantage of the facilitated visa regime is free of charge  visa provided to children younger than 12, as well as to persons with  disabilities and persons accompanying them.  This document envisages  facilitated procedure of receiving visas for entering countries of  Schengen zone for the members of official delegations, journalists,  businessmen, scientists, sportsmen, schoolchildren and students,  close relatives of EU citizens, as well as for the people who visit  European Union countries for medical treatment. Participants of  various international conferences, exchange programs and other  international public events also may get visas via facilitated  procedure, in total the list of various groups of people who get  opportunity to visit European Union is quite large due to the  facilitation agreement. The procedure of issuing multiple entry visas  has also been facilitated, which was too complex and time-consuming  before. Armenian citizens with diplomatic passports do not need to  receive visas. The agreement regulates the terms of Armenian  citizen's stay in the territory of EU. Now this period totals 90 days  in 180-day period.