Deepening EU-Armenia Relations: Visa-free travel possibility on the horizon
Turning Points for Armenia: Visa-free Travel and Shifting Alliances
Step forward, Armenia! The European Union's primary decision-making body, the Council, gave the green light to initiate discussions on visa-free travel for Armenian citizens on July 22. While it's a significant stride, don't count on vaccinated passports just yet; the process could stretch out for years. This long-awaited incentive encourages Yerevan to persist in its geopolitical realignment from Russia towards the West.
Delighted by this development, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan lauded the move. He also expressed gratitude for the European Union's provision of 10 million euros in non-lethal military assistance, offered under the European Peace Facility's framework.
Visualize a major milestone for those seeking EU integration: visa-free travel for citizens. Yerevan faces the challenge of undertaking wide-ranging reforms to stake its claim, demanding upgrades in security measures and migration control.
Unfortunately, the prospect of Armenian citizens receiving visa-free entry to the EU is as far off as the horizon. Neighboring Georgia required a laborious 5-year effort to secure these travel privileges, while it took Moldova 4 years, and Ukraine a whopping 9 years.
The route for Armenia looks bumpy. Unlike Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, Armenia doesn't enjoy an association agreement with the EU. Their relations are governed by a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement instead. Adding to the complexity is Armenia's membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, coupled with a persistent Russian military base in the nation.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been expressing doubts about the EU's commitment to reciprocating his government's Westward overtures, ever since Azerbaijan claimed Nagorno-Karabakh in late 2023. This strategic shift in Armenia's relations with Russia resulted in a swift deterioration of their partnership. Many Armenians felt beleaguered due to the Kremlin's lack of action in upholding security guarantees during the Second Karabakh War.
Pashinyan started a whispering campaign, hinting at Armenia's aspiration to seek EU membership, even promising an application "this year." However, he later moderated his statements, questioning the EU's readiness for expansion into the South Caucasus region and expressing uncertainty about scheduling a national referendum on this matter.
The EU's visa liberalization announcement indicates an increased interest in bolstering relations with Armenia.
News of the EU offering non-lethal military aid to Armenia didn't sit well with Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry deemed the decision short-sighted and dangerous, fueling regional tensions just when peace talks appear to be at a standstill.
- The visa-free travel initiative for Armenian citizens, although a significant step in Armenia's pursuit of EU integration, may follow a lengthy process similar to the 5-year journey of neighboring Georgia, or the 4-year journey of Moldova, or the 9-year journey of Ukraine.
- Amidst Armenia's geopolitical realignment from Russia towards the West, the EU's visa liberalization announcement and provision of non-lethal military assistance are clear signs of increasing political interest in bolstering relations.
- The path towards EU integration for Armenia is filled with challenges, including the necessity of wide-ranging reforms, as well as navigating complexities such as its membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union and a persistent Russian military base, which may stir war-and-conflicts-related concerns and policy-and-legislation debates in the context of regional politics.
