Armenia does not expect EU membership by 2030, but maintains its course toward rapprochement
Armenia does not expect EU membership by 2028 or 2030, but its course toward rapprochement with the EU is its strategic choice, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan.
"We are not naive to believe that we will become an EU member in those years," he noted, emphasizing that the law adopted last March to launch the membership process is a clear political signal about Armenia's future.
According to Kostanyan, Yerevan is developing an ambitious reform agenda to meet European standards, which is critical for the country. Dialogue with the EU on visa liberalization is also underway. The "Armenia-EU Strategic Partnership Agenda," approved in December, defines the framework for phased integration, including in the areas of security and the economy.
As a reminder, the Armenian parliament approved a law to launch the EU accession process on March 26, 2025. The partnership program, approved on December 2 in Brussels, included provisions for supporting Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratic reforms, and economic sustainability.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously stated that the country was moving toward EU standards while maintaining its membership in the EAEU. He stated that if combining both approaches was impossible, the choice would be made by the people in a referendum.
