Media: Armenia to apply for EU membership in autumn Details of closed meeting

In a closed-door meeting last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the possibility of Armenia applying for European Union (EU) membership.

"Late last week, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the parliament and met with party members. According to available reports, the Civil Contract faction does not hide its alarm at the prospect of Armenia taking decisive steps to change its foreign policy course. The fact is that last week Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with a large number of MPs of the National Assembly. Although he had already met a few days before and presented the results of the meetings in Munich and Paris, this time he told the team that a new meeting was needed," Caliber.Az reports, citing the Yerevan-based Hraparak newspaper.

The meeting delved into crucial issues related to Armenia's potential accession to the EU: "The closed discussion was attended not only by MPs of the ruling party, but also by ministers, the Secretary of the Security Council, and members of the party's board. On the agenda were issues related to the start of the process of Armenia's accession to the EU candidates. Nikol Pashinyan made it clear that the West demands practical steps to separate [Armenia] from Russia and remove it [Russia] from the region, and in the current situation Armenia has no other choice but to fulfil the demands of the West, because Russia has long ago turned its back on us,” the newspaper writes.

“It has become known that Pashinyan is discussing this issue in a narrow circle before the general assembly. It is no coincidence that last Thursday, Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan "announced" this topic at a press conference, saying that Armenia is ready to become a candidate for membership in the European Union and move in the direction that will ensure Armenia's maximum security, and once again made anti-Russian statements. It should be noted that the authorities have not made such harsh statements in public before. Only late last year Pashinyan cautiously stated that Armenia is ready to be as close to the EU as the EU deems possible.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed his views and proposals to his colleagues at the closed session of the enlarged parliament. He believes that the security interests of our country require becoming a candidate for EU membership, if not militarily, at least economically, which will allow Armenia to become stronger. Pashinyan also presented the deadlines for the application - Armenia should apply no later than autumn.

There are doubts in the team that Pashinyan is going to hold a constitutional referendum at this time, demanding a vote of confidence from the people to change the state's foreign policy. However, most of the team was against the rush, except for parliamentary speaker and head of the Civil Pact faction Hayk Kondjorian, who tried to justify the need to apply for EU candidacy as soon as possible, thereby possibly bringing Russia to its senses with his speeches against it.

Member of the ruling party Gurgen Arsenyan called it dangerous and risky to apply for EU accession. Other MPs also said that there is no need to hurry and it is necessary to take at least a year off, assess the risks and calculate the possible consequences of this step, including political ones. Some party members expressed fears that Moscow would carry out a change of power in Armenia.

Gurgen Arsenyan made a long speech about the economic component, presenting that Armenia is fully connected to the Russian market, several times tried to slightly punish by closing the Lars, as a result a paralysed situation was created in Armenia. Some expressed their opinion: one way or another, Armenia is moving towards the EU, freezing relations with the CSTO, accepting the Rome Statute, etc., what is the point of rushing, fuelling the anger of Russia, especially since it is not excluded that in a few months a completely different geopolitical situation will emerge, Russia will be on a different platform, and warm Armenian-Russian relations will be restored. The main argument of those who expressed such a position was that at least in this way Armenia would have a field for manoeuvre. However, Nikol Pashinyan insisted on the inevitability of this step and stressed several times that they only have time until autumn. He also responded to a question about possible dangers by saying that it will be what it will be, there are no hopes or expectations from Russia, and the West can give security guarantees, although he did not seem to insist on this.

A group of MPs also tried to defuse the situation, especially to reassure those expressing dissent. They said that some countries' applications are considered for years, submitting an application does not mean that tomorrow we will become a candidate for EU membership, but Pashinyan's reaction showed that in the case of Armenia, they promised to consider the issue quickly. It was agreed that at the next meeting, which is likely to take place in the coming days, they should present the possible consequences and risks of the move to become a candidate for EU membership. Pashinyan urged the MPs to make a professional analysis and discuss the issue at the upcoming meetings.

We have learnt from our sources that separate meetings of MPs with the foreign minister, the secretary of the Security Council and officials of other departments are also possible in the near future," the report said.