On May 20, Johannes Luchner, Deputy Director General of Migration and Internal Affairs of the European Commission, was in Armenia. Within the framework of the visit, under the coordination of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan and the involvement of representatives of state bodies, the European Commission’s first progress report of Armenia and its recommendations on the implementation of the RA-EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP) were discussed.
During the discussion, the parties thoroughly reflected on the implementation of the benchmarks in the four main directions defined by the Action Plan, in the context of the reforms implemented in the fields of document security, complex border management, public order protection and protection of fundamental human rights.
The Armenian side presented the institutional and operational changes aimed at the complex management of migration risks and borders, the prevention of illegal migration and the effective implementation of readmission agreements. As part of the process of introducing biometric passports and identification cards, the project implementation stages, data management mechanisms, and deadlines were specified.
As part of the modernization of the educational system, Armen Ghazaryan noted that in the educational complex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with the specialization of policemen and rescuers, it is planned to introduce specialized educational programs for border guards, using international best practices and modern methodologies. According to him, the development of professional capabilities is an important prerequisite for the effectiveness of border management.
Reference was also made to the process of implementation of benchmarks related to public order and security. Measures to prevent and combat organized crime were presented, including the development of a crime prevention strategy and action plan, the introduction of an intelligence-based policing model, as well as the development of a national serious and organized crime threat assessment system. Within the framework of cooperation with Europol, the steps implemented in the direction of exchange of operational information through the SIENA system, formation of interdepartmental operational groups, creation of an asset recovery office, development of capabilities to fight against cybercrime, and creation of a cyber laboratory were also discussed.
Reference was also made to the implementation of the action plan of the 2025-2027 strategy against non-medical use and illegal trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The European side has taken an interest in a number of directions in the specific dates for the implementation of the planned measures and the schedule for ensuring the expected results.
The European side highly appreciated the recorded progress and highlighted Armenia’s commitment to ensuring the continuity of reforms. Armen Ghazaryan reaffirmed the willingness of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to continue the effective implementation of the visa liberalization action plan in close cooperation with European partners.
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