Armenia understands that EU and EAEU membership simultaneously is impossible: Pashinyan

Strengthening cooperation with EAEU member states is one of Armenia’s foreign policy and foreign economic priorities. This was stated by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, speaking at the expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council taking place in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

“For Armenia, strengthening cooperation with the other EAEU members remains a foreign policy and economic priority. This approach will also be reflected in the new government’s program,” he said.

At the same time, according to Pashinyan, the Armenian people do not yet face a question of choice, since the country is not yet ready to join the EU.

“We understand that simultaneous membership in the EAEU and the EU is impossible, but the very fact of adopting the law on launching the process of joining the EU means that Armenia has the opportunity to become a member of the European Union. When Yerevan is eventually ready for EU membership, that also does not mean our country will automatically become an EU member. That requires the consent of EU members and of Armenian citizens. On the other hand, it is impossible to put this question to a vote by Armenian citizens without prior institutional work, and even after that, it will be necessary to submit an official application to join the EU. Then it will be necessary to obtain the status of an EU candidate country,” he said.

Pashinyan added that without completing at least a large part of the stages listed, holding a referendum on this issue would be meaningless and would amount to expecting citizens to answer a question that does not yet exist.

“There are no obligations in Armenia’s relations with the European Union that contradict its status in the EAEU. Armenia proceeds from the premise that the Eurasian Economic Union should not be viewed as a space of restrictions. Relations between EAEU member states and third countries should not be perceived as a zero-sum game,” he added.