Piotr Switalski: Dialogue for visa facilitation between Yerevan and Brussels is of high importance

Dialogue for visa facilitation between Yerevan and Brussels is of high importance, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, told ArmInfo. 

In his words, the dialogue for visa facilitation between Armenia and EU has been held for nearly two years and has resulted in an increase in the number of applications to the consular services of the EU countries.  For instance, he said, in 2014 the number of the applications increased by 15%, in 2015 - by 24%. This means that the citizens are using facilitated visa regime. It is an important element for visa liberalization in the future, Ambassador Switalski said.

The diplomat said he attended the launch of the Armenia-EU Visa Dialogue on June 14. He hailed the constructive discussions held and the operation procedure protocol signed during the event.

Earlier on June 14, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Karen Nazaryan mentioned high responsibility, which Armenia demonstrated in implementation of the agreement between the European Union and Armenia on the visa facilitation, as well as the readmission agreement. He made the remarks during the third session of the joint Committee on implementation of the abovementioned agreement held in Yerevan on June 14. 

To note, on December 17, 2012 visa 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 in180-day period.