Armenia Advances Toward EU Membership with Government-Backed Bill

The proposed legislation marks the start of a potential EU accession process, signaling Armenia's shift away from Russia and closer alignment with Europe.

• Armenia's government approved a draft bill to begin the process of joining the European Union, which will now move to parliament for consideration.
• Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that EU membership would require a national referendum and extensive negotiations before becoming a reality.
• The move reflects Armenia's growing discontent with Russia, citing Moscow's lack of support in conflicts with Azerbaijan and its broader unreliability as an ally.
• Armenia has been distancing itself from Russia, freezing its participation in the CSTO military alliance, sending aid to Ukraine, and adhering to EU sanctions on Russia.
• Challenges to EU accession include Armenia's economic reliance on Russia, its lack of a direct border with the EU, and ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

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