Prime Minister: Armenia has no plans to leave the Eurasian Economic Union

ArmInfo. Armenia has no plans to leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during a briefing on November 5, responding to a question about whether his announcement of applying for EU membership in 2027-2028 meant Armenia was preparing to leave the EAEU.

"But you know that our colleagues from the EAEU are raising the issue of Armenia making a decision and holding a referendum. I have previously stated that we do not have a basis for holding a referendum at this time," he noted. The Prime Minister emphasized that, in accordance with these promises, the authorities have begun preparing to form an alternative so that the Armenian people have the opportunity to make a decision."

"To hold a referendum on EU membership, he said, it is necessary, at a minimum, to go through certain procedures." "We are currently moving down this path. It is clear to me that the process is leading to Armenia formally applying to become a full EU member in 2027-2028, especially since we have a valid law," Pashinyan said.

It should be noted that days earlier, during the Euronews summit on EU enlargement, the Armenian Prime Minister stated that Armenia could officially apply for EU membership in 2027 or 2028. He called EU membership a strategic choice for the protection of democracy.

It should be recalled that the leaders of the EAEU countries previously adopted a joint statement stating that at the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in December 2026, participants will discuss the possible consequences of the suspension of the EU membership for Armenia. The Eurasian Economic Union Treaty has expired.

Regarding this, relations between Moscow and Yerevan have become more complicated due to Armenia's integration policy towards the EU. Since the end of May of this year, Russian authorized bodies—Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor—have gradually introduced restrictions on the supply of fresh agricultural produce, flowers, fish, fish products, and dairy products from Armenia to Russia and the EAEU market. Armenia traditionally exported approximately 80-90% of these commodity groups to the Russian Federation. Due to the difficult situation faced by Armenian producers and exporters, the government is developing support programs to stimulate exports to the EU and other countries. In particular, this includes covering transportation costs and customs duties to enter new markets.

Thus, in mutual trade with Russia in January-September 2026... The following picture emerged: trade turnover decreased by 19.4% to $4 billion. Exports amounted to $1.8 billion, a year-on-year decline of 11.3%, while imports amounted to $2.2 billion, a year-on-year decline of 25.2%.

Trends with the EAEU countries are also not encouraging. Mutual trade volume during the reporting period decreased by 17.4% to $4.3 billion. Exports, however, declined by 10.7% to $2 billion, while imports declined by 22.4%, reaching $2.3 billion.