New forms of relations with EU may signal shift away from EAEU – Kristina Yermak

Speaking with Alpha News, international expert Kristina Yermak commented on reports that Armenian authorities will intensify their efforts to join the European Union if the ruling Civil Contract party wins the 2026 parliamentary elections.

“If we consider Pashinyan’s thesis on European integration in light of the upcoming elections, two aspects emerge. First, the configuration of relations with the EU has not changed. That is, the status quo established on April 4th has been maintained—no qualitative shift in interaction has occurred to suggest a strengthening of ties, nor is there any indication of distancing from the Euro-Atlantic course. The second aspect relates to foreign policy as a whole. In recent months, attention has been focused on regional issues and establishing ties with Baku and Ankara. Pashinyan’s thesis signals that, if re-elected, his foreign policy agenda will expand significantly. This serves as a reminder of what was circulating in the media a few months ago: that regional diplomacy will be complemented by deeper engagement with Euro-Atlantic partners,” Yermak said.

According to the expert, a practical combination of the EU and EAEU formats is impossible.

“Regarding the transformation of relations with Russia, recent communications between leaders at major forums show that both sides continue to emphasize the importance of partnership. However, Armenia understands that combining the EU and EAEU formats is impossible. Currently, with the configuration established on April 4th and virtually no progress, there is no real economic cost to relations with Russia. However, if relations with the EU continue to take on new forms in practical terms, this could signal a clearer shift away from the EAEU. At the same time, everything will also depend on the Eurasian Economic Union’s partner countries and their reactions to Armenia’s policies,” Yermak concluded.