Armenia to begin EU membership application process

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on August 24 that his government may soon begin the formal process of applying for European Union membership, marking a significant geopolitical shift for the South Caucasus nation as it moves away from its traditional alliance with Russia. Speaking to parliament in Yerevan, Pashinyan outlined a multi-step plan that would first involve submitting an official application, awaiting a response from Brussels, and agreeing on a roadmap for accession negotiations before holding a national referendum on membership.

The announcement represents the latest step in Armenia's growing distance from Moscow, a relationship that has frayed significantly since the 2024 conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenia accused Russia of failing to provide adequate support. Pashinyan told lawmakers that Armenia would take into account concerns from its partners in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, but emphasized that the country's future would be decided through a democratic process. "We may begin this process in the near future," Pashinyan stated, adding that the government would wait for the EU's response to any application before proceeding...