The US-EU-Armenia trilateral meeting held in Brussels proves that we are getting closer to each other. This is based on shared determination. Lead Spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano, stated this in a conversation with Radio Liberty station.
“In our current work, we rely on the support we have. At the same time, we are already taking it forward with the new partnership agenda, which was agreed two months ago and reinforced again in Brussels. The meeting between US Secretary of State Blinken, President von der Leyen, High Representative Borrell and the Prime Minister of Armenia certainly emphasized or formulated what we want to do, how we want to do it, of course, based on the opportunities we have, and at the same time realizing that we are expanding what we have and bring it to a new, higher level, because we want to cooperate more closely and extensively, and on broader issues and in more areas,” said Stano.
Referring to the possibility of including Armenia in the list of countries using the mechanism of the European Peace Fund, he noted that work is being done in that direction, but the processes in the EU are slowing down, because the agreement of 27 countries is necessary for making decisions. According to Stano, the same applies to the visa liberalization process.
“There is no delay in this matter, because there should be a schedule for this. No one has set a schedule. Visa liberalization is similar to other EU processes. It is a very thorough, highly technocratic process, ultimately also a political one, as the decision must be approved by the member states.
Member states have to find the best way to make sure that they are satisfied with all the criteria that have been met, that they have enough guarantees that visa liberalization will not be abused,” said the EU representative.
