On February 12, the Armenian Parliament approved in the first reading a draft law initiating the process for the country's application to the European Union. The document was supported by 63 deputies, with 7 voting against and no abstentions, according to Armenian media outlets News.am and Armen Press.
According to Interfax, representatives of the ruling Civil Contract faction voted in favor of the draft law, while deputies from the opposition Honor bloc voted against its adoption. The other opposition force, Armenia, did not participate in the voting.
The document states that the Republic of Armenia "declares the start of its application" to the EU, expressing the will of its people and setting the task of making the country "safe, secure, developed, and prosperous." The legislative initiative was put forward by the civic movement "Platform of Democratic Forces," which collected 60,000 signatures in support of the document over two months.
The Armenian government approved the draft law on Armenia's application to the European Union on January 9 in Yerevan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that this document "does not mean Armenia's membership in the European Union in the direct sense of the word," and the decision to apply to the EU can only be made through a referendum.
In September 2024, Armenia and the EU officially launched negotiations on visa liberalization. During a visit to Yerevan, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas called the start of the dialogue on visa abolition a historic event.