Companies from Eurasian Economic Union member states question Armenia’s commitment amid EU integration

Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said that companies from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states may no longer rely on Armenia due to the potential negative effects of its integration with the EU. 

Zakharova made this statement during a press briefing, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

"It seems logical to assume that when we hear statements suggesting that the EAEU is no longer of interest to Yerevan, this issue concerns not only the state position but also economic operators, who are drawing their own conclusions that partners from that side might not be interested in this partnership," said the diplomat.

He added that the future of business cooperation with Armenia will be shaped based on this information.

She noted that the prospects for business cooperation with Armenia will be shaped with this information in mind.

Furthermore, Zakharova emphasised that under these circumstances, business structures from EAEU member states will reorient themselves toward other partners. 

"They [businesses] understand that decisions must now be made based on this factor," she added.

Earlier, the Armenian Parliament  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.

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.

By Naila Huseynova