Armenian parliament moves forward with EU accession process

The Armenian Parliament has passed the bill titled "On the Beginning of Armenia’s Accession Process to the EU" in the first reading.

Some 63 members voted in favour, while 7 voted against, with no abstentions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The bill was introduced by one of its initiators, former Justice Minister and member of the pro-Western Republic party’s political council, Artak Zeynalyan. Public and political organisations supporting this initiative gathered 60,000 signatures (the Armenian Constitution allows the Parliament to consider bills proposed by civil society if they collect at least 50,000 citizen signatures).

The project was approved by the government in January 2025. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clarified earlier that this step does not automatically mean Armenia’s accession to the EU, as such a decision must be made through a national referendum.

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 Naila Huseynova