Armenia’s parliament has approved a bill in its first reading, initiating the country’s accession process to the European Union. The bill was supported by 63 lawmakers, with seven opposing the move. The majority of the “yes” votes came from the ruling faction, Bürgervertrag.
The bill was originally initiated by a civil society group, which had gathered the required number of signatures to present it to parliament. In January, the Armenian government endorsed the bill. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that the final decision on Armenia’s EU membership will be made through a national referendum. According to Pashinyan, while Armenia is well-integrated in the Eurasian Economic Union, a significant portion of the population is eager for EU membership.
Russia’s Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, commented on the decision, stating that it is Armenia’s sovereign right to initiate the EU accession process. However, he emphasized that the Armenian people will continue to benefit from their membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. There are political forces in Armenia that believe an EU orientation could bring additional benefits, but without a clear understanding of whether the European Union is even interested in Armenia’s membership. The EU accession process is typically a lengthy one, requiring decades of effort.
Meanwhile, Armenia is expanding its international relations, particularly with the United States. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, signed a charter on strategic partnership, which is intended to serve as a foundation for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy, security, defense, democracy and justice.