Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said one possible path for Armenia is membership in the European Union, though such an outcome depends on more than Yerevan’s wishes alone. In an interview with Radio France International, he said the EU itself still has to decide on its enlargement policy.
Pashinyan said the strategic goal of Armenia and the Armenian people is to create alternatives in foreign relations. He argued that for a long time the country operated in an environment with limited choices, and that the government’s task now is to broaden those options.
According to the prime minister, Armenia’s people should be able to decide whether the country remains a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, becomes a member of the European Union, or joins neither the EU nor the EAEU. He said such a choice should be made in a setting where real alternatives exist.
At the same time, Pashinyan stressed that Armenia will continue reforms aimed at aligning the country with European Union standards. If Armenia becomes fully and objectively ready for membership at some point, he said, the issue would depend on two factors: whether the EU is willing to accept Armenia and whether Armenia’s people vote in favor of that option.
Pashinyan added that even if Armenia is objectively ready but does not become an EU member, the country would still benefit by having a state that fully meets European Union standards.
