A formal Armenian application to join the European Union in 2027 or 2028 is “realistic”, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit. He said his government intends to let Armenians choose their own path, and he rejected warnings that Armenia could become the next Ukraine.
Timeline for a formal application
“Next year we can be realistic. 2028 can be realistic,” Pashinyan said. “We started the process which will bring us to the final decision to submit application for formal membership of European Union.”
In August, Pashinyan told the national parliament that his government intends to apply for EU membership “in the near future”. According to Euronews, the move would pull the South Caucasus country out of Russia’s orbit and towards Brussels.
Yerevan has yet to submit a formal application. It is currently in a visa liberalisation dialogue with the European Commission, aiming to complete the process by 2029.
Democracy as a strategic choice
Pashinyan described EU membership as a strategic choice to protect Armenia’s democracy following the 2018 revolution, which ousted pro-Russian politicians from power.
“For our people, democracy isn’t a matter of circumstances. It is a strategic choice,” he said. “The European Union was one of the main partners of the Republic of Armenia in the democratic reform agenda implementation.”
“Our first intention is to create an alternative for the people of Armenia and for the Republic of Armenia, because, traditionally, the perception of our society and maybe our neighbourhood was that Armenia has no alternative,” he said.
Relations with Russia
Russia has threatened retaliation, Euronews reports, most notably by cutting off Armenia’s energy supply. Pashinyan said his government aims to diversify its political and economic relations.
“If there is no balance in any relations, there is always a risk,” he said.
Rejecting the Ukraine comparison
Asked about threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that Armenia could become the next Ukraine, Pashinyan dismissed the comparison and said his priority was safeguarding the country’s independence.
“Our goal is to level up, to develop our independence. And that is a legitimate goal. Nobody could reduce Armenia’s aspiration to be a more independent, more integrated country,” he said.
Choice between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union
Pashinyan said he was aware of the trade-off between joining the EU and remaining in Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, and that it would be for the Armenian people to make that choice.
“We were inspired by Georgia’s determination to be a full member of the European Union. For Armenia, the success of Georgia is very important, for the citizens’ perception of our European prospects,” he said.
With information from Euronews
