Armenia prepares EU membership bid as Pashinyan announces plans

According to the Armenian prime minister, the EU integration process requires extensive preparatory work, so preparations for the nationwide referendum will begin only after several mandatory procedural steps have been completed.

Pashinyan stressed that the referendum on EU membership would follow a clear sequence of steps. First, Yerevan will formally submit its application, after which it will receive a response and assessment from Brussels. The sides will then agree on a joint roadmap.

However, the prime minister did not provide a specific timeline for submitting the official application.

Taking the foreign policy context into account

Pashinyan emphasized that the decision to move toward the European Union is being made with consideration for the broader foreign policy context and consultations with Armenia's partners in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

"To hold a referendum, Armenia must submit a formal application to join the EU. This is a process that requires extensive work. We will begin this process in the near future, particularly taking into account the calls from our colleagues in the EAEU," he said.

In recent years, Yerevan has steadily deepened cooperation with the European Union amid frozen relations with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Speaking in parliament, Pashinyan said Armenia does not intend to return to the CSTO over the next five years. He also added that he would be "very pleased" if the CSTO decided to expel Armenia from the bloc.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the Kremlin had launched hybrid pressure on Pashinyan ahead of the elections, including a ban on imports of Armenian cognac and vegetables and threats to triple gas prices.