Armenia To Submit Application To Join EU This Year?

Opinions of political analysts.

There has been more talk about the course towards the European Union in Armenia. Armenian media even reported that the country wants to apply for EU membership this autumn. Experts believe that probably an association agreement will be concluded between Armenia and the EU.

Armenian political scientist Ruben Mehrabyan told "RBC-Ukraine" that Armenia's pro-European movement is not a one-step process, but it is important that a political decision is made and a certain idea of its step-by-step implementation is formed.

"For we have stuck so deeply in this swamp over the past 30 years that it will be impossible to get out of it in one day," he explained.

Another Armenian political scientist Armen Hovhannisyan believes that there is no question of Armenia applying for EU membership. In his opinion, it is difficult to predict the behaviour of Nikol Pashinyan's government now, as it is based on fears of the Russian Federation.

However, according to the political analyst, a certain agreement between Armenia and the EU is being prepared at the official level.

"In all probability, it will be an association agreement. We have CEPA agreement, it is a comprehensive co-operation agreement between the EU and Armenia. In 2013, we were ready to sign an association agreement even before Nikol Pashinyan came to power. This provoked a reaction from the Russian Federation. Sargsyan was summoned to Moscow, and literally overnight Armenia's application to join the Eurasian Economic Union was signed. This is considered by many people to be a black day for Armenia," he said.

According to the political analyst, an association agreement between Armenia and the EU could be signed as early as this summer.