Pashinyan Clarifies When Armenia Will Apply for Full EU Membership

YEREVAN — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has outlined the conditions under which Armenia will formally apply for full membership in the European Union.

Pashinyan addressed the issue while presenting the election program of the ruling Civil Contract party.

He noted that Armenia’s cooperation with the EU has deepened significantly in recent years. The EU civilian mission deployed in Armenia in 2023 has contributed to stability along the country’s eastern borders, while the EU’s “Resilience and Growth” program has been implemented since 2024. EU member states have also provided assistance to Armenia under the European Peace Facility.

In 2025, Armenia adopted a law launching the process of EU accession, initiated visa liberalization dialogue with the EU, and began consultations on security and defense cooperation. The same year, Armenia and the EU signed a strategic partnership agenda. Since 2018, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU has been in force.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia will continue implementing the necessary reforms to meet EU membership criteria.

“When Armenia fully meets these criteria, EU membership will become a political decision and will depend on whether the EU is ready to accept Armenia. If it is, the Republic of Armenia will apply for full EU membership. If not, the implementation of these reforms will still represent a strategic achievement, as Armenia will have become a country fully aligned with European standards,” he said.

Addressing Armenia’s relationship with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Pashinyan acknowledged that it is not possible for a country to be a member of both the EAEU and the EU simultaneously.

“However, as long as reforms aimed at aligning with the EU and meeting membership criteria remain compatible with Armenia’s membership in the EAEU, Armenia will continue to remain a member of the EAEU and will develop trade and economic relations with its member states,” the prime minister stated.