Yerevan plans EU application timeline
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on November 5 that Armenia intends to officially submit an application in 2027 or 2028 to begin the process of becoming a full member of the European Union. Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, Pashinyan said the government is preparing alternative options for the country but has not started the process of withdrawing from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is a trade bloc led by Russia. He stated that certain procedures must be completed before the government can hold a referendum on leaving the EAEU or joining the EU. This announcement follows remarks Pashinyan made in Brussels on November 3, when he said Armenia could apply to join the EU in 2027 or 2028. Although Armenia adopted legislation in April 2025 to launch a process towards EU membership, this action did not constitute a formal application. The European Commission published an enlargement report on November 4 that set accelerated accession targets for several candidate countries, including Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, and Ukraine, but the report did not provide Armenia with a comparable timetable for membership negotiations.
| Entity | Armenia’s Status | Relevant Date |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Process launched April 2025 | Application target 2027/2028 |
| EAEU | Active member | No current plan to withdraw |
| CSTO | Participation frozen | Meeting on November 11 |
No immediate withdrawal from EAEU or CSTO
Pashinyan expressed his government’s disillusionment with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Moscow-led military alliance from which Armenia has frozen its participation. "Our interest in the CSTO has run its course, and we have no interest in the CSTO," he said. These comments arrive ahead of a November 11 CSTO meeting, which comes amid reports that the organization could remove the voting rights of Armenia. While the Prime Minister expressed no interest in the military alliance, he maintained that the government is not planning to leave the EAEU. He said that Armenians should have the opportunity to choose the country’s future direction. Because the government must complete certain procedures first, Pashinyan said there are currently no grounds for holding a referendum on leaving the EAEU and joining the EU.
Friction with Moscow following Nagorno-Karabakh
Yerevan’s relations with Moscow have deteriorated since military operations by Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2023 resulted in the loss of Armenian control over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia has repeatedly criticized Russia because the Russian government failed to provide adequate support during confrontations with Azerbaijan. Moscow has argued that membership in both the EU and the EAEU is incompatible. As Armenia shifts its focus towards Western ties, Russia has imposed restrictions on some Armenian agricultural exports and raised the prospect of changes to preferential energy supplies.
