Prime Minister says that a bill should be approached without “improper enthusiasm” and that formal adhesion process can only start after a majority of the population to support it in referendum
The Armenia Parliament approved on Wednesday the bill “on the beginning of the process of adhesion of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union” in its second and last reading, local agency News.am, cited by international agencies.
The bill, introduced in the Armenian Parliament as a citizen initiative after taking 60,000 signatures, was approved with the votes in favor of 64 deputies, having seven others voted against.
Yerevan has sought to establish a narrower relationship with the EU, in a context of deterioration of ties with Russia, although the country of Southern Caucasus has not yet filed a formal request for adhesion to the European bloc.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed in January that, even after the approval of the bill, the adhesion process can only start if the Armenian people so support them in referendum.
The head of the government stressed that the bill must be approached without “improper enthusiasm” and that the country must focus on the development of more practical measures, such as the liberalization of visas.
In October 2023, in a speech in the European Parliament, Pashinyan said his country is ready to align himself more closely with the bloc, although he later expressed doubts about whether Armenia is ready for full joining.
The EU legislature discourse took place shortly after Russia, a traditional Armenian ally, failed to prevent a lightning offensive from Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, which led to a rapid deterioration of bonds between Yerevan and Moscow.
Last March, the European Parliament approved a resolution that installed the EU executive bodies to reinforce relations with Armenia. The European Parliament also stated that Armenia fulfills the requirements of the Maastricht Treaty to formally apply for adhesion.
