It is impossible to combine participation in EU and EAEU – Konstantin Tasits

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian political scientist and expert on the South Caucasus Konstantin Tasits commented on the Armenian parliamentary commission on European integration’s approval of the bill regarding the country’s intention to join the European Union in its second reading.

“This suggests that the current government of Armenia is continuing its course of, as they say, diversification of foreign policy relations. Judging by the text of this bill—which lacks specific content and essentially consists of a single sentence—it seems likely that experts are correct in suggesting that the topic of European integration will be used by the ‘Civil Contract’ as an election slogan during the parliamentary elections. The bill does not have specific content; that is, it does not imply either obtaining EU candidate status or any other benefits.

Moreover, the EU would need to show interest, but it is currently preoccupied with internal challenges. We see that relations with Trump have worsened. There are serious socio-economic difficulties that need to be resolved. And, in principle, he does not show any significant engagement in the South Caucasus,” Tasits said.

According to the expert, it is impossible to combine participation in two integration associations, because this will not contribute to improving Armenia’s relations with the EAEU.

“As the Russian leadership said, this approach will not contribute to the improvement and dynamic development of Armenia’s relations with the EAEU because it is impossible to combine participation in two integration associations, they contradict each other. In general, this is Armenia’s sovereign choice on how to conduct its foreign policy. In this case, Moscow can inform the Armenian side of the potential consequences.

Basically, Maria Zakharova said it well that Armenia’s counterparties—companies operating within the EAEU market—will take into account the fact that Armenia may at some stage leave this association, and they will be less interested in developing mutually beneficial relations with it. This, in turn, will lead to a gradual decline in economic growth, which was largely ensured by Armenia’s close ties with Russia and other EAEU countries,” Tasits concluded.