Armenia approves bill to begin EU accession process

The Armenian government has approved a bill to kickstart the country's bid for European Union membership, with the final decision to be made through a national referendum.

The Armenian government approved a draft law on Thursday to begin the process of applying for European Union membership.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking in Yerevan, clarified that while this decision lays the groundwork for EU accession talks, the final decision will be made through a national referendum. Pashinyan emphasized that the roadmap for EU membership will need to be discussed with the EU before the referendum takes place.

Following government approval, the draft will be presented to Armenia's parliament for further consideration, expected to be completed by the end of January.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that Armenia has the right to pursue EU membership, but noted the challenges of being part of both the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the EU. He stated that membership in both organizations would be incompatible due to differing trade and customs regulations, while reaffirming that EEU membership remains beneficial for Armenia.

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