EU Readmission Agreement with Armenia

Thursday 21st March 2013 Written Statements

[The Minister for Immigration (Mr Mark Harper)]

The Government have decided not to opt in at this stage to the draft Council decisions concerning the signature and conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (European Union Document Nos. 16909/12, COM(2012) 703; 16910/1/12, COM(2012) 704).

There is little irregular migration from Armenia to the UK and we have no operational problems with returns which an EURA would help to resolve. It would be possible for the UK to seek to participate in the agreement post adoption if these circumstances were to change.