The Russian Foreign Ministry: The EU`s internal market is competitive, and there will be no favorable conditions for Armenian products there

ArmInfo. The EU's internal market is competitive and highly regulated, and will not provide favorable conditions for Armenian products. This was stated by Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"The harsh reality is that the EU's internal market is highly competitive and highly regulated, and Armenian products will definitely not be welcomed there with open arms," Maslennikov said.

At the same time, the diplomat recalled, experience shows that candidate countries can wait not even years, but decades for EU membership.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in June that the EU is working on a support package for Armenia, which includes, in particular, €50 million in financial assistance. In March 2025, the republic's parliament adopted a law initiating Armenia's accession process to the European Union. The Russian side noted that being in a customs union with both the EU and the EAEU was impossible. During talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Armenia's intention to join the EU, noting that the adoption of a law initiating the EU accession process would amount to a declaration of withdrawal from the EAEU. Putin suggested that Pashinyan consult the people of Armenia and close the door on the republic's membership in the EAEU or accession to the European Union. Pashinyan, in turn, stated that, in his opinion, the question of Armenia's accession to the EU has not yet matured to the level of a referendum.