On January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law to initiate the process of joining the European Union. This decision marks a significant shift in Armenia's foreign policy, which has increasingly leaned towards Western nations over the past year.
Armenia's Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, confirmed that the country is exploring the possibility of submitting an application for EU membership, following a suggestion by the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan. The draft law will be submitted to the parliament for further consideration after government approval.
Despite Armenia's aspirations, Russian officials have expressed concerns about the implications of dual membership in the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Armenia is a member along with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged Armenia's sovereign right to pursue EU membership but highlighted the benefits of remaining in the EAEU.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that any decision regarding EU membership would ultimately depend on a national referendum. This development comes in the wake of Armenia officially joining the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2024, which allows for the potential arrest of Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Armenian territory, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for war crimes related to the conflict in Ukraine.