Armenia’s parliament has passed a bill calling on the government to start the country’s bid for EU membership, signaling a shift away from Russia’s sphere of influence.
Armenia has moved closer to the EU after blaming Moscow for not shielding it from its arch-enemy Azerbaijan, which seized control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023, leading to the exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians.
In February 2024, Armenia froze its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and joined the International Criminal Court, obligating it to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits.
The court in March 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes committed in Ukraine.
No EU state has formally backed Armenia’s bid to join the bloc, but Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has said Brussels “will accept the membership application if it is made.”
Warning from Moscow
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, cautioned on March 13 that if Armenia exited the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union during the EU negotiation process, the country would lose tariff-free trade, face higher gas prices and encounter limits on its migrant workers in Russia.
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Armenian service, Armenian officials said that Yerevan currently has no plans to leave the Russian-led trade organization.
They added that the bill passed on Wednesday, with the support of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party, does not constitute a formal bid for EU membership.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said EU membership would require a national referendum.
RFE/RL, citing government sources, reported that Armenia relies on Russia for over 40% of its trade and buys most of its natural gas from Moscow at a steep discount.
