Armenia's new cabinet program to reflect continued participation in the EAEU

The program of Armenia's new government will include a provision stating that the country will continue to remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

This was stated by Sargis Khandanyan, a deputy of the ruling Civil Contract party faction, at a briefing in parliament.

"As you have seen, Armenia took part in the EAEU Intergovernmental Council and presented its positions. Also, in all EAEU formats Armenia takes an active part and makes its contribution, both politically and financially <...>. Our status in the EAEU and the continuation of membership were enshrined in the pre-election program of the Civil Contract party and will also be reflected in the government's program," he said.

Yerevan has recently been declaring a course toward integration with the European Union. On March 26, 2025, Armenia's parliament passed a law on launching the process of the republic's accession to the EU. At the same time, Pashinyan asserted that Yerevan does not intend to withdraw from the EAEU and expects to combine membership in the organization with integration into the EU for as long as that remains possible. As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted, integration into the EU automatically entails the termination of Armenia's cooperation with the EAEU and the loss of all the accompanying preferences from which Yerevan has benefited throughout its time in the Eurasian Economic Union.

At the EAEU summit held in Astana on May 29, the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan adopted a joint statement indicating that they share the position on the need to hold a nationwide referendum in Armenia on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU. Khandanyan repeated the thesis that it cannot be held as long as there is "no subject for a referendum."

On August 11, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with TASS that Armenia needs to decide on holding a nationwide referendum on joining the European Union or retaining membership in the EAEU by December of this year, when the question of possible further steps regarding Yerevan will be discussed at a meeting of the heads of the EAEU member states.

Source: TASS