Armenia Advances EU Membership Bid with Government Approval
Armenia’s government has approved a draft bill aimed at starting the process of the country’s accession to the European Union, with the document now set to be presented to the country’s parliament for further consideration.
During a presentation of the draft, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirsoyan highlighted the intensification of relations between Armenia and the EU in recent years, citing the “political support of the EU for Armenia” as an example. He also mentioned the EU’s decision to deploy a civilian observer mission to the country and its willingness to support the strengthening of Armenia’s economic stability.
Mirsoyan emphasized that Armenia is willing to approach the EU as much as the EU is willing to accept it, citing the start of visa liberalization and other instruments discussed with the EU.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinjan, however, cautioned that the draft bill should not be seen as a request for immediate EU membership. Instead, he said, the main goal is to signal Armenia’s willingness to work practically towards EU integration.
“It’s necessary to develop an action plan and understand how we see this process and how the European Union sees it” Pashinjan said. “This path has many aspects that need to be thoroughly discussed. Only after the results of the negotiations will it be clear whether the question of EU membership should be put to a referendum.”
Pashinjan stressed that the discussion on potential EU membership should not spark either excessive optimism or excessive tension, and that all decisions should be made “exclusively in the national interest of Armenia.”
Armenia is considering EU membership in the face of the challenges it has faced in the past four years, Foreign Minister Mirsoyan said in March 2024. The country also aims to diversify its partnerships and expand the circle of its allies, he added.
The EU has decided to build up bilateral cooperation with Armenia, as announced by EU High Representative Josep Borrell in February 2024.
In a separate development, Prime Minister Pashinjan threatened in March 2024 that Armenia would withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if the organization fails to define its area of responsibility in Armenia. If the CSTO answers the question and its response aligns with Armenia’s expectations, the country will consider the matter closed, Pashinjan said.