Armenia May Apply for EU Membership Within a Month

Armenia may submit an application for European Union membership within the next month or next year. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced this in an interview with Deutsche Welle, emphasizing that it is the country's official policy.

"I cannot say for sure when we will submit the application. Maybe it will be next month, or maybe next year. It depends on many factors," the minister said.

According to him, a law has been adopted in Armenia that obliges the government to strive for European Union membership. Mirzoyan noted that active work is being done in this direction, and society demands tangible progress. "We see that the citizens of the RA are demanding that we move forward. We also hear some criticism from them regarding possible delays and long procedures," the Foreign Minister added.

Speaking about the existing relations with the EU, Mirzoyan recalled the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and also noted the quite successful process towards visa facilitation. In addition, Yerevan and Brussels have completed work on a new partnership program, which, according to the minister, could be signed within the next three months.

It should be noted that the bill on starting the process of joining the EU, adopted by the National Assembly of Armenia on March 26, has become a cause for much disagreement. The Kremlin has stated that it is impossible to be a member of both the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the EU at the same time. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, in turn, noted that Russia considers this the beginning of Armenia's withdrawal from the EAEU.