Parliament Panel Approves Bill on Armenia’s EU Membership

YEREVAN — Armenian National Assembly`s Committee on European Integration on Friday approved a draft law on the beginning of the accession process to the European Union. The bill endorsed by the government calls for the “start of a process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union,” paving the way for its adoption by the National Assembly.

The bill was drafted by several pro-Western political and civic groups. They collected last year 60,000 signatures in support of their demands for a referendum on joining the EU.

Representatives of those groups defended their initiative during a nearly four-hour meeting of the parliament committee on European integration. One of them, Artak Zeyanlyan, said the EU membership bid will “increase the Armenian government’s resilience” in the new “geopolitical situation” in and around the region.

The parliament’s legal experts questioned its conformity with Armenia’s relevant laws and international obligations. Nevertheless, the parliament panel dominated by pro-government deputies approved the bill. This means that it will be debated on the parliament floor on February 11.

Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovannisian, who also spoke during the committee meeting, did not clarify what exactly the government is planning to do after its passage. PM Pashinyan said on January 9 that the referendum on EU membership should be held only after Yerevan and the EU work out a “roadmap” to Armenia’s accession to the bloc. No EU member state has officially voiced support for such a prospect so far.