Armenian parliament approves first reading of EU accession bill amid political divisions

The Armenian Parliament approved in its first reading the draft law "On the Start of the Process of Armenia's Accession to the European Union."

The bill passed with 63 votes in favour, 7 against, and no abstentions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

However, the decision has ignited fierce political debate. The opposition faction "Hayastan" announced it would not participate in the vote, while the second-largest opposition faction, "I Have Honor," voted against the proposal. The opposition has dismissed the move as a "farce" and has pledged to boycott further voting on the matter.

The initiative was presented by Artak Zeynalyan, former Minister of Justice and a member of the political council of the pro-Western Republic party. Zeynalyan is one of the primary authors of the draft law, which was backed by civil society organizations that collected over 60,000 signatures in support, surpassing the required threshold of 50,000 signatures for parliamentary consideration.

In January 2025, the Armenian government formally endorsed the bill, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasizing that the legislation does not guarantee immediate EU membership. According to Pashinyan, a national referendum would be required to determine Armenia's potential accession. He also pointed out that, while Armenia enjoys its current status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and seeks closer ties with Iran, a significant portion of the population desires a European future for the country.

Russia has voiced strong concerns regarding Armenia's shift in orientation. The Kremlin responded to the vote, warning that it is not feasible for Armenia to be a member of both the EAEU and the European Union simultaneously. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk remarked that Russia views the law as the beginning of Armenia's exit from the EAEU, likening the decision to purchasing a ticket for the doomed "Titanic."

By Vugar Khalilov