Yerevan – The Armenian parliament on March 26 passed a bill “On starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union” in its second and final reading.
After 60,000 signatures were collected, the bill was introduced into parliament as a civil initiative. Of the 64 lawmakers who voted in favour of the bill, seven voted against it.Amidst deteriorating relations with Russia, Yerevan has sought a closer relationship with the European Union, though it has not submitted a membership application.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted in January that even after the bill is passed, the accession process can begin only if the Armenian people back it in a referendum.EUThe prime minister stated that the bill should be dealt with without “undue enthusiasm” and that the country should currently concentrate on developing more practical measures, such as visa liberalization.Speaking in the European Parliament in October 2023, Pashinyan stated that his country is willing to align more closely with the EU, though he later voiced doubts about whether Armenia is ready for full membership.Pashinyan delivered a speech to the EU’s legislature shortly after Russia, Armenia’s traditional partner, failed to stop an Azerbaijani lightning offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a rapid deterioration of relations between Yerevan and Moscow.
How does the EU resolution affect Armenia’s membership bid?
Last March 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution insisting the EU’s executive bodies maintain relations with Armenia. The resolution means considering the possibility of giving Armenia the status of a candidate for EU membership.
“If Armenia is interested in obtaining candidate status and continues on the path of sustainable reforms that strengthen its democracy, this could form the basis for a transformational stage in EU-Armenia relations,”
The resolution stated.In a resolution, the European Parliament
“recognized and commended Armenia’s determination to strengthen its relationship with the European Union:“We call on the executive bodies of the European Union — the European Commission and the European Council — to respond positively to this desire and to continue implementing the recently agreed EU-Armenia Partnership Programme, emphasizing the need to actively follow and achieve ambitious joint cooperation priorities.“
