Armenia's road to the EU: 50,000 signatures validate referendum push

Armenia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has confirmed the legality of more than 50,000 signatures collected by an initiative group seeking to start the process of the country's integration into the European Union.

This means that the country's parliament will discuss a bill proposed by the activists to hold a referendum on the issue, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

According to Armenia's constitutional law “On Referendum,” at least 50,000 valid signatures are required for an initiative group to be able to submit a bill to parliament.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that if the legislative initiative reaches the parliament, it would be illogical for the political majority led by him to vote against the referendum, as he himself stated that “Armenia is ready to be as close to the EU as the EU deems this process possible”. In turn, the Armenian opposition has repeatedly stated that this initiative is only pursuing domestic political goals, and that the referendum will not bring Armenia closer to the EU in any way. 

In 2024, Armenia's potential EU membership has become a prominent topic, especially amid its increasing distancing from Russia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signaled an interest in pursuing EU membership, and discussions around this have gained momentum following a European Parliament resolution that supports the possibility of Armenia becoming an EU candidate.  

By Khagan Isayev