16 April 2013, Yerevan – Experts of the International Migration Organisation (IOM) conducted an “Analysis of Armenian Migration Legislation and Practice as Compared to EU Standards” to study if and how the national legislation on migration is aligned with the EU legislation. The gap analysis identified legislative and institutional practices concerning migration and ascertained to what extent the Armenian legal and institutional framework meet the requirements of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement as well as the requirements of the EU-Armenia Mobility Partnership Agreement, EU-Armenia Visa Facilitation Agreement and EU-Armenia Readmission Agreement.  

The analysis was conducted under the auspices of the Armenian Ministry of Justice.  Deputy Minister of Justice of RA Yeghishe Kirakosyan, acknowledged the work done on strengthening the capacities of national institutions engaged in migration management in aligning national laws with EU legislation.  

IOM Head of Office, Ilona Ter-Minasyan, appreciated the opportunity to provide technical assistance in migration management and international migration law.  “The study addressed both immigration and emigration, in addition to legislation and policy also the related administrative and judicial practices were reviewed,” Ms Ter-Minasyan said.  

The report is divided into 17 chapters, each examining a different migration- or asylum-related topic. The topics encompass the whole cycle of migration starting with entry (including travel documents, visas), residence (employment, study, family migration) to exit, return, readmission and removal.  Irregular migration and human trafficking are also tackled on as well as integration and data protection and data collection.  The analysis is made through the prism of protection of migrants' rights and non-discrimination.  For each of the areas the EU legal framework is presented followed by the relevant Armenian legislation on the same topic. The gap analysis is structured in two levels: the gaps between the Armenian legislation and implementation in practice; and the gaps between the Armenian and the EU legislation 150 concrete recommendations are suggested to address the gaps.  The study is a technical support to the “2012-2016 Action Plan for Implementation of the Concept for the Policy of State Regulation of Migration in the Republic of Armenia.”

Today the main findings of the report were discussed with the representatives of the Armenian Government.  It is expected that the analysis report will serve as a Roadmap for approximation of national regulations and procedures with the European standards.  

The study was prepared in the framework of the project “Strengthening Evidence-Based Management of Labour Migration in Armenia” which was funded by the European Union and the IOM Development Fund and implemented by IOM and ICHD.  One of the objectives of the project is to raise awareness about possible approximation of legislation on migration management with EU legislation.  The total budget for the “Strengthening Evidence-Based Management of Labour Migration in Armenia” Project is 2,450,000 Euros out of which 1,950,000 Euros is funded by the EU.  

 

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