Armenia is not expected to join the EU, and European integration threatens severe economic consequences: Waldemar Gerdt

Waldemar Gerdt, former Bundestag member, commented to Alpha News on the prospects of Armenia’s European integration and the possible consequences of Yerevan’s closer ties with the European Union. According to the expert, the EU has no real interest in either Armenia’s market or the country’s human potential, and the main reason for its attention to Armenia is its geographical location.

“I believe that, in reality, the European Union has no significant interest in either Armenia’s market or its human potential. Its only interest is in creating another hotspot of tension on Russia’s doorstep. Logically, I see no other explanation for this process. Armenia has no advantages that the EU would consider critically important for itself. The European Union is a modern-day colonial regime. Therefore, any new country seeking to join the EU should be viewed as yet another colony from which personnel, resources, and everything else will be extracted. Armenia has neither substantial natural resources nor the human capital that could attract the European Union. The only thing it has is its geographical location, which could create certain difficulties for Russia. But at the same time, it would also create enormous difficulties for the people of Armenia themselves,” Gerdt said.

According to the expert, abandoning close economic cooperation with Russia could have serious consequences for Armenia’s economy and the population’s standard of living.

“Just look at the scale of trade with Russia, it accounted for more than 80 percent. At the same time, access to inexpensive Russian gas helped maintain a certain level of economic stability. If all of this is destroyed, the people of Armenia will face a very grim outcome. No one in the European Union will admit Armenia or accept it as a member, that is certain, because there is simply no economic rationale for doing so. Even as a colony, Armenia is of little interest to the European Union. I do not understand why anyone would want to destroy good, stable relations. Yes, a country must defend its national interests, and I fully agree with that. Armenia should seek more favorable terms of cooperation with Russia as well. A leader must act solely in the interests of their people and their state. Whatever benefits the country should be embraced, while anything that does not should be reconsidered or rejected,” Gerdt noted.

In the opinion of the former Bundestag member, Armenia will not gain any significant benefits from pursuing European integration, while the European Union itself is experiencing a systemic crisis.

“I see no benefit whatsoever in Armenia becoming, in any way, a satellite of the European Union. There are no economic, political, or humanitarian factors that would have a positive impact on Armenia if it were to begin integrating into the EU. In my view, the European Union does not have much time left. This giant with feet of clay will sooner or later collapse. It would be better to keep as far away from it as possible during that process, otherwise it could bury and destroy those nearby. That is my advice,” Gerdt concluded.