Armenia set to collect signatures for EU membership referendum

During a session on September 11, the Armenian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved a request from 51 citizens to form an initiative group aimed at proposing a bill titled "On Initiating the Process of the Republic of Armenia's Accession to the European Union through a Citizen Initiative."

Artak Zeynalyan has been appointed authorized representative of the initiative group. The CEC released this information, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Armenian media. 

CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan noted that the initiative group has submitted all the necessary documents required by the law "On Referendum". The collection of signatures required to bring the bill to a referendum will take place within 60 days following the registration of the initiative group by the CEC.

The signature collection period is set from September 16 to November 14, 2024, inclusive. In a separate decision, the commission established the format for participant certificates for the citizen initiative and the authorised representative of the citizen initiative. 

Three political forces—the European Party of Armenia, the Republican Party, and the "For the Republic" Party—have proposed a petition to hold a referendum on Armenia's accession to the European Union.