Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan clarified Tuesday that Armenia’s recent legislative move toward the European Union is not an official bid for membership, but rather a symbolic gesture of the nation’s aspirations. His remarks came after the National Assembly passed the draft law “On the Launch of the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union” in its second and final reading.
Hovhannisyan emphasized that the law reflects Armenia’s desire for deeper cooperation with the EU, aligning with what he described as a “balanced foreign policy.”
The ruling Civil Contract party, led by Nikol Pashinyan, pushed the bill through with 64 votes — all from within its ranks. The opposition “With Honor” faction voted against it, while members of the “Armenia” faction abstained entirely, opting not to participate in the vote.
One of the most contentious elements was the government’s decision to alter the original preamble of the bill. The phrase “Armenia, expressing the will of the people” was removed and replaced with a more technocratic formulation referencing democratic development, public welfare, and rule of law.
In recent developments, Armenia has taken concrete steps toward EU integration. In early 2025, the Armenian government approved a bill to initiate the accession process to join the European Union, signaling a shift from its previous alignment with Russia. This move followed a successful petition and aims to deepen Armenia’s relationships with the West. However, Pashinyan has emphasized that the process would be lengthy and would require a public referendum. The EU has not yet issued an official statement regarding Armenia’s bid, and Russia has expressed concerns, particularly given Armenia’s current membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
In 2024, a coalition of Armenian political parties and civil society groups launched the “Eurovote” initiative, a petition calling for a referendum on EU membership. Spearheaded by the European Party of Armenia and others, the campaign quickly gathered over 60,000 signatures—surpassing the 50,000 needed to bring the issue to parliament. The petition was submitted in November 2024, prompting the government to forward a draft law to the National Assembly in January 2025. In February, the bill passed its first reading with support from the ruling party, while opposition factions abstained or voted against it.
Additionally, in September 2024, the EU and Armenia opened official negotiations on lifting the EU’s visa requirements for Armenian citizens. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated that this development signifies a deepening of Armenia-EU relations and could foster greater people-to-people contacts and economic ties.
