Armenia has taken a step toward European Union membership as its government approved a draft law on initiating the accession process, Armenia News reported on January 9.
The bill was submitted as a citizens' initiative, and now awaits parliamentary consideration, according to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that formal steps toward EU accession could only proceed if supported by the Armenian people in a referendum.
“If the law is adopted, we need a clear understanding of our next steps,” Pashinyan said during a government meeting, as cited by News AM. He noted that both Yerevan and Brussels would need to agree on a comprehensive roadmap for integration.
But Pashinyan also urged caution, advocating for a practical focus on immediate priorities such as visa liberalization rather than premature enthusiasm for full EU membership.
Strengthening EU Ties
The move toward the EU is in many ways a strategic pivot for Armenia, a country that has historically aligned with Russia.
Relations with Moscow soured after Russia failed to intervene during Azerbaijan’s rapid offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. This prompted Armenia to seek stronger ties with the West.
In March 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution encouraging stronger EU-Armenia relations and affirming that Armenia meets the Maastricht Treaty criteria to apply for membership.
Pashinyan previously expressed Armenia’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the EU, though he acknowledged challenges to achieving full membership status. Speaking in the European Parliament in October 2023, he outlined his vision for closer alignment with Europe while emphasizing Armenia’s need to strengthen its domestic reforms.
