The Government of Armenia has officially approved the draft law that starts the process of joining the country to the European Union. The corresponding decision was made during the government meeting, and now the document will be sent to the parliament for further consideration.
As stated in the justification of the government, this step will contribute to the formation of realistic expectations of citizens regarding the possible membership of Armenia in the EU. In addition, it will create the necessary conditions for organizing discussions on integration with the European Union.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the adoption of the draft law does not guarantee accession to the European Union. "This does not mean Armenia's membership in the European Union in the literal sense of the word," he said. According to him, the final decision on joining the EU can only be made by holding a national referendum.
Pashinyan also emphasized the importance of preparatory measures before the referendum. "Before that, we need to take certain actions, in particular, agree on a road map with the European Union," the head of government said.