Armenia is currently the only country actively negotiating visa liberalization with the European Union. Yet, in public perception, the process is often viewed simply as a way to travel to the Schengen Area without a visa. In reality, its significance goes far beyond that.

Behind the prospect of visa-free travel to Europe lies a comprehensive and demanding reform agenda aimed first and foremost at improving the quality of governance, strengthening security, and bringing tangible benefits to people’s everyday lives in Armenia.

The Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP), officially presented to Armenia in November 2025, is far more than a travel-related document. Containing 74 benchmarks, it serves as a roadmap for institutional modernization, stronger border and document security, the rule of law, and the structural formalization of the economy.

Read the full article on Civilnet.am.

The author of this article is Arshaluys Mghdesyan, a journalist from Civilnet.am within the framework of the “EU–Armenia Strategic Partnership and Visa Liberalization Dialogue” program, implemented jointly by the Public Journalism Club and the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.

It should be noted that on March 26–27 of this year, Arshaluys Mghdesyan participated in a two-day seminar in Aghveran under the same program title. Within the framework of the seminar, 11 representatives of Armenian media outlets met with Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia, as well as ambassadors and consuls of EU member states and representatives of Armenian state institutions, to discuss the progress of EU–Armenia cooperation, including visa-related issues.