Armenian MP slams EU for ignoring Armenia's membership aspirations at Munich conference

During a panel discussion on EU enlargement at the Munich Security Conference, there was no mention of Armenia's potential membership in the European Union, said Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan on Facebook.

He noted that the discussion, which included the prime ministers of Albania and North Macedonia as well as the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, focused primarily on the Western Balkans, including Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

Abrahamyan pointed out that Armenia, despite its government’s aspirations to join the EU, was not even mentioned, with no formal recognition or reference made to the country during the session.

He also highlighted the absence of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has been a vocal proponent of the country’s EU aspirations.

The discussion on the future of EU enlargement even included references to Georgia, which has faced tensions with the EU, but Armenia was notably excluded.

Abrahamyan expressed disappointment at the lack of support from EU officials for Armenia’s EU ambitions, suggesting that it reflects the EU’s disinterest in Armenia’s approach to foreign policy, which he described as "adventurism."

He concluded by criticizing the Armenian government for what he sees as an unrealistic and unreciprocated pursuit of EU membership.

Note that, on March 12, 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution confirming that Armenia meets the Maastricht Treaty Article 49 requirements and that the country may apply for EU membership.

At the 2024 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his hope that Armenia could become a member of the European Union by the end of the year.

Pashinyan supported a petition calling for a referendum on whether Armenia should apply for EU membership, which successfully gathered over 50,000 signatures, meeting the threshold required to bring the issue to a vote in the National Assembly. The Assembly is expected to make a decision on the matter in January 2025.

By Aghakazim Guliyev