Ambassador: Armenia's EU decision sovereign, but dual membership impossible

Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin, has emphasised that Armenia’s decision regarding membership in the European Union (EU) is a sovereign right of the country.

Kopyrkin noted during the Trajectory show that from Russia’s perspective, it was made clear from the outset that Armenia cannot be a member of both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“This is not a matter of Russia's position, but rather an issue of objective reality. A country cannot be part of two customs unions simultaneously,” he said.

He added that Armenia now faces the responsibility of choosing its direction based on its national interests.

Kopyrkin further pointed out the benefits of Armenia’s current membership in the EAEU, noting that the country is seeing positive outcomes from its participation.

“Armenia is a member of the EAEU and is benefiting from this membership. Everyone acknowledges that this is one of the key factors driving economic development and socio-economic stability in the Republic of Armenia. This is clearly reflected in the statistics, trade turnover dynamics, and investment cooperation,” he said.

However, the ambassador also highlighted that the future of Armenia’s relations with the EU remains uncertain, given the current negative trade dynamics between Armenia and the EU.

"For now, the dynamics of trade turnover with the EU are negative," he added.

Kopyrkin also addressed the growing challenges faced by the EU, particularly the impact of the ongoing sanctions regime against Russia. 

He noted that these issues complicate any assessments of the economic prospects of Armenia’s potential EU membership. Turning to the EAEU, Kopyrkin emphasized the union’s developing nature and the collaborative approach it promotes.

"The EAEU is a developing structure. There are numerous tasks set by the leaders of the member states, focusing on the development of a common market and cooperation in various areas. Each country is a sovereign participant in this process, and nothing is decided without the voice of each member state," he explained.

In contrast, Kopyrkin pointed out that the EU operates with a rigid set of norms and regulations that govern nearly every aspect of life, and joining the union would require adopting these regulations without any guarantees of full membership.

The ambassador also discussed concerns over the EU’s democratic values, which have recently come under scrutiny, particularly following elections in Romania. 

He expressed his concern that the "European core" is increasingly becoming a center of conflict, especially given the pragmatic stance of the United States.

On the topic of military-technical cooperation between Armenia and Russia, Kopyrkin acknowledged occasional dissatisfaction from Armenian officials but reassured that the issue remains an integral part of bilateral relations. 

"The topic of military-technical cooperation exists and is part of our ongoing discussions. Clearly, the current situation does have an impact on the processes, but we have accumulated a significant volume of work in this area. From the Russian side, there is the political will to maintain what we have," he said.

Kopyrkin also reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to Armenia’s security, stressing that it is the presence of the Russian 102nd Military Base and Russian border guards that ensures the country’s security—not promises from Western powers. 

"As far as I know, no security guarantees comparable to the Russia-Armenia relationship have been offered to Armenia. The main components of our security cooperation, the military-political alliance, remain intact," he stated. 

The ambassador concluded by noting that the leadership of Armenia continues to view Russia's security support positively, citing the continued operation of the Russian military base and the unchanged presence of Russian border guards in Armenia.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said that Armenia must choose between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU), as the two organizations are "incompatible" due to their free movement of goods, services, and capital.

"EAEU and the EU are incompatible. Both unions imply the absence of customs borders and the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour. It is impossible to imagine that these two unions could merge at some point," he stated.

The deputy prime minister further noted that if Armenia were to sever its relations with the EAEU, "on the one hand, energy and food prices would rise, and on the other, exports of Armenian goods would decline by 70–80 per cent."

"Thus, ordinary people would lose income, jobs, and face higher costs for necessities. In return, they would likely receive visa-free access, and Armenia would experience depopulation. It is becoming increasingly clear that EAEU membership is a privilege," Overchuk stated, comparing EU accession to purchasing a ticket for the "Titanic," given the economic and social challenges facing the organisation.

By Naila Huseynova