Prospects of EU visa facilitation regime for certain categories of citizens of the republic of Armenia

Abstract

With the European Neighborhood Policy launch and Eastern Enlargement successfully completed, the EU is searching for a proper balance between internal security and external stabilization that is acceptable to all sides. This paper focuses on an EU foreign policy instrument that can be a solution: EU visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The paper aims to offer analysis of the objectives, substance and political implications of these agreements. The analysis suggest that EU visa facilitation and readmission agreements from one side are means to implement a new EU security approach in the neighborhood and from another side are tools to make Europe more closer and its values more acceptable; offering more relaxed travel conditions in exchange for the signing of an EU readmission agreement and reforming domestic justice and home affairs, the EU has found a new way to push for reforms in neighboring countries while addressing a major source of discontent in these countries. The paper also discusses broader implications of these agreements. The study contains comparison part of the agreements of those countries which have already implemented EU visa facilitation regime. The paper concludes with the recommendations, namely how RA can improve border management and legislation.