Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Wednesday that Armenia “unequivocally” and “unconditionally” aims to become a full member of the European Union, according to Armenpress.
Speaking at a security forum in Yerevan, Pashinyan said the country is undergoing broad reforms to bring its institutions and governance in line with EU standards.
“Do we want to become a full member of the European Union? Yes, unequivocally and unconditionally,” he said, adding that Armenia is pursuing a “very firm and clear” path toward meeting EU requirements.
Pashinyan noted that EU membership is not granted for geopolitical reasons alone and requires meeting strict criteria. A candidate country, he said, must align with roughly 97 to 99 percent of EU standards before a political decision on accession can be made.
He added that Armenia stands to benefit regardless of whether the EU chooses to expand further. “In both cases, Armenia wins — either by becoming a full member of the EU or by becoming a modern state that meets European standards,” he said.
Armenia’s cabinet approved a bill in January last year to begin the country’s EU accession process.
