Nov 4, 5:01 PM
Armenia Outlines Plan for Potential EU Membership Application by 2028
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan cites trade corridor development and foreign policy balancing as key steps.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia could formally apply for membership in the European Union in 2027 or 2028. Speaking at the Euronews Enlargement Summit on Tuesday, Pashinyan explained that his administration is working to balance and diversify its foreign relations to secure national interests and manage external risks.
The prime minister acknowledged that dual membership in both the European Union and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union is legally and practically impossible. According to Pashinyan, the government's current policy aims to establish a concrete alternative so that Armenian citizens can ultimately make a democratic choice regarding which economic bloc the nation should join.
In his remarks, Pashinyan emphasized that the South Caucasus is developing a broader role in global trade as international markets seek alternatives during supply chain crises. He cited the TRIPP corridor—the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—as a project intended to establish commercial routes connecting Central Asia and the South Caucasus with the European Union, China, the Middle East, and Africa.
Regarding relations with neighboring Azerbaijan, Pashinyan reported that peace has materialized on the ground, though a formal treaty still requires signature and ratification. He noted that institutionalizing the peace agreement remains necessary because the European Union does not integrate candidate countries involved in active conflicts.
Pashinyan also addressed relations with other adjacent states, pointing out that candidate status for Turkey and Georgia serves as a structural benefit for Armenia's European ambitions. He stated that Armenia supports Georgia's European integration efforts, while acknowledging that diplomatic ties with Turkey remain complicated or non-existent, and that trade with Iran continues to face restrictions related to international sanctions.
Written by Sandy van Dongen sandy.vandongen@alpineweekly.com
