In a resolution overwhelmingly approved by its members, the EU’s legislative body also seemed to encourage the South Caucasus country to seek eventual membership of the 27-nation bloc.
The resolution says that “should Armenia be interested in applying for candidate status and continuing on its path of sustained reforms consolidating its democracy, this could set the stage for a transformative phase in EU-Armenia relations.” It cites Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s announcement last week that Yerevan is considering doing so.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian was noncommittal on the idea of seeking EU membership when he spoke at a news conference on Tuesday. He twice discussed the idea with parliament deputies from his Civil Contract party last week. Some of those lawmakers reportedly voiced serious misgivings about it, arguing that Armenia is heavily dependent on Russia for trade and energy.
Addressing the European Parliament last October, Pashinian said his government wants to move closer to the EU “as much as the EU finds it possible.” Armenia’s relationship with Russia has deteriorated further since then. Pashinian announced last month the effective suspension of Yerevan’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The EU lawmakers welcomed that decision criticized by Moscow, pointing to the Russian-led alliance’s “failure to assist Armenia against military aggression” by Azerbaijan. They also praised Yerevan for seeking closer ties with the EU.
The EU, their resolution says, “should respond positively and take full advantage of this potential geopolitical shift and help Armenia anchor itself more strongly in the community of democracies.” The resolution calls on the EU to provide military assistance to Armenia from the European Peace Facility (EPF) designed to boost EU partners’ defense capacity
Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonian revealed in July that Yerevan requested “technical assistance” from the fund but was rebuffed by Brussels.