The Armenian parliament passed a bill “On starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union” in its second and final reading on March 26, the News.am news agency reported.
The bill, introduced into the parliament as a civil initiative after collecting 60,000 signatures, was supported by 64 lawmakers, with seven voting against it.
Amid deteriorating relations with Russia, Armenia has been working to strengthen its ties with the European Union. However, the country has not yet formally submitted a membership application.
In January, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that, even with the bill’s approval, the accession process can only begin if the Armenian people endorse it through a referendum.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan cautioned against “undue enthusiasm” regarding the bill, emphasizing that Armenia should prioritize practical steps such as visa liberalization before considering full EU accession.
Addressing the European Parliament in October 2023, Pashinyan stated that Armenia was prepared to strengthen its alignment with the EU. However, he later expressed uncertainty about whether the country was truly ready for full membership.
His remarks came shortly after Armenia’s longtime ally, Russia, failed to intervene against Azerbaijan’s lightning offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a sharp deterioration in Yerevan-Moscow relations.
In March 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging EU institutions to deepen ties with Armenia. The resolution also stated that Armenia meets the Maastricht Treaty criteria, making it eligible to apply for EU membership.
