Armenia’s economy has no place in the European market: Yevgeny Semibratov

Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts at RUDN University, Yevgeny Semibratov, commented to Alpha News on the Armenian authorities’ interest in adopting European standards.

“Armenia’s transition to European standards appears highly questionable and unjustified from a rational and historical perspective, because European standards differ significantly from those adopted within the Eurasian Economic Union,” Semibratov said.

According to the expert, simultaneously moving toward the EU while maintaining membership in the EAEU contradicts the logic of integration processes.

“Not long ago, we saw statements from the Armenian leadership, including the Minister of Economy, that Armenia is not interested in leaving the EAEU. At the same time, the Russian side has repeatedly emphasized that Armenia cannot simultaneously remain in the EAEU and join the EU, as one excludes the other. Therefore, this measure seems unpromising, unjustified, and contrary to the interests of the Armenian people. Regarding potential exports of Armenian products to the European market, one must understand the high level of competition and the stagnation of the European consumer market; quite simply, in the current environment, there is no place for Armenia’s economy there. Meanwhile, within the economic framework of the EAEU, Armenia’s position has long been established, and it occupies its own niche,” he said.

In the expert’s opinion, the course toward closer ties with the West is political in nature and lacks economic justification.

“Once again, we see elements tied to well-known political processes initiated by the current political leadership of the country, which does not deny or conceal its intention to gradually move Armenia into the context of the so-called transatlantic sphere and the collective West. However, the example of countries like Ukraine and Moldova shows that for post-Soviet states at this stage, this path is a dead end. Even the Baltic countries that joined the EU and NATO are now economic outsiders, whereas during the Soviet era they were the showcase of the entire Soviet Union. Therefore, movement toward Europe is an entirely unjustified and illogical step,” Semibratov concluded.