Armenia’s parliament approved a bill on March 26 declaring the start of the country’s European Union accession process, despite strong opposition from Moscow and internal political divisions.

Although the revised bill formally declares the start of Armenia’s EU accession process, officials stress that it does not constitute a formal membership application. Moreover, no EU member state has expressed support for Armenia’s bid.

The bill, passed in its second and final reading, was backed by 64 members of the National Assembly, with seven voting against. All supporting votes came from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party, while opposition parties either abstained or opposed the legislation.

The vote followed weeks of debate and amendments. The government initially approved the bill on January 9, with the first parliamentary reading passing on February 12. The final vote was postponed in early March due to last-minute amendments. 

Opposition parties have voiced strong reservations. Members of the I Have Honour faction, associated with former president Serzh Sargsyan, voted against the bill, while the Armenia faction, linked to ex-President Robert Kocharyan, abstained, a parliament statement said. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan pointed out that adoption of the bill does not constitute an application for EU membership.

"However, it conveys the aspiration of the citizens of Armenia to take the deepening of partnership with the EU to a new level and is consistent with a balanced foreign policy," Hovhannisyan told the parliament as reported by News.am.

Supporters of the bill argue that public sentiment favours EU membership. Artak Zeynalyan, a representative of the civil initiative that proposed the bill, pointed out that the draft law was submitted under Armenia’s constitutional provisions and gathered double the required number of signatures in over 1,000 communities.

The bill’s passage comes amid tensions between Armenia and Russia. Moscow has warned that closer EU ties could have economic repercussions, including higher gas prices, restricted market access and the possible deportation of Armenian migrant workers. 

Armenia remains a member of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), but Prime Minister Pashinyan has acknowledged a growing divide between Armenia’s official foreign policy stance and public sentiment. "Armenia feels comfortable in the EEU; however, the government recognises that a substantial part of the population aspires to join the EU," Pashinyan told the parliament.

The debate over EU accession has also drawn criticism from opposition leaders who argue that the move is premature, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the EU and Russia over Ukraine.

Despite the parliamentary vote, the Armenian government maintains that any final decision on EU accession would be subject to a nationwide referendum. Meanwhile, negotiations between Armenia and the EU continue on a separate bilateral agreement aimed at deepening economic and political ties.

The current basis for EU-Armenia relations is the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2017. Talks on a new ‘partnership agenda’ were launched last year, coinciding with Armenia’s increasing estrangement from Russia. However, EU officials have stressed that this agreement does not equate to a formal membership track.