RA FM assesses results of first Armenia-EU summit and comments on  issue of membership in EAEU

ArmInfo. The first Armenia-EU summit was quite effective, adopting a final document outlining areas of joint cooperation and promising areas of collaboration. 

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this on May 19 in  Yerevan at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart,  Kestutis Budrys, in response to a request to comment on the results  of the Armenia-EU summit and the Russian President's call for a  decision on membership in the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.

He added that the EU will continue to support the process of  democratic reform in Armenia. Regarding the clarity of Armenia's  approach since this summit, Mirzoyan assured that it had been clear  before, and the Armenian side had presented it to its European  partners on various occasions.

"It's no secret that Armenia and the EU are growing closer every day,  and every opportunity exists for this, and a key factor is the  European aspirations of Armenian citizens," he said. In this vein,  Mirzoyan recalled the civil initiative launched for EU accession,  which became the basis for the adoption of the relevant law by the  Armenian parliament in 2025.

Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for Armenia to  decide as soon as possible on its membership in the EU and the EAEU,  Mirzoyan noted that Armenia has no intention of "divorcing" any of  its partners. "We also have no intention of creating conflict, or  more accurately, tension, in Armenia-Russia relations. We are  partners with numerous contacts. And we are committed to developing  these mutually beneficial relations in a healthy atmosphere. Are  there any issues? Of course, but problems exist in any relationship,"  the Armenian Foreign Minister said, adding that Yerevan advocates for  a constructive resolution, respecting the parties' positions on  various issues.

Mirzoyan further stated that it is not Russia that should speak about  the incompatibility of Armenia's simultaneous membership in the EU  and the EAEU. "We will continue our rapprochement with the EU, and  when the time comes for us to decide whether to be part of this group  of countries or another, we will make that decision. There is nothing  new here. And it is not from outside that we should be talking about  this," he concluded.

On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists,  suggested that Armenia decide on its membership in the EU and the  EAEU as soon as possible, expressing its readiness to "begin a  civilized divorce" if necessary.

On January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law on  the initiation of the process of joining the European Union, proposed  by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft was submitted to the  Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26, the parliament adopted  it in its final reading and sent it to the president for signature.  The document was signed on April 4 of that year. Moscow stated that  Russia had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in the  Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union was impossible.