Armenia prepares to apply for EU membership and hold a referendum

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Armenia’s lawmakers that the government would begin preparing an application to join the European Union. He described the timing as “in the near future,” rather than announcing completed membership negotiations. [1][2]

Pashinyan said Armenia would decide the issue through a national referendum only after formally applying and receiving a response from Brussels. He also said the government would then discuss a roadmap for accession negotiations before putting membership to a vote. [1][2]

Armenia remains a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, according to the reports. Pashinyan linked the shift to security concerns and argued that Russia had faced limitations in its ability to perform a security role during Armenia’s wars with Azerbaijan over Karabakh. [1][2]

The Kremlin’s Dmitry Peskov responded that bringing Armenia into alignment with EU standards could trigger serious trade contradictions. The warning was presented as a possible consequence, not as evidence that new trade restrictions had already begun. [1][2]