Brussels – There is no doubt that the first-ever EU–Armenia Summit in Yerevan marked a historic rapprochement between the European Union and a country traditionally tied to Russia. Despite not fully cutting these links with Moscow, they have progressively deteriorated in recent years, opening a window of opportunity for the EU to strengthen its presence in the complex South Caucasus region.
What took place on 5 May in the Armenian capital was the political culmination of more than five years of efforts in Brussels to deepen cooperation with Yerevan, from security to economic ties and connectivity. Yet, the key issue of Armenia’s EU membership made no tangible progress – “inevitably,” several EU sources told The New Union Post.
“The EU reaffirms its steadfast commitment to further strengthen its relations with Armenia and to support its sovereignty, resilience, and comprehensive reform agenda,” the joint declaration adopted at the summit reads. Concerning the “European aspirations of the Armenian people,” only a short passage on the adoption in 2025 of the ‘Law on Launching Armenia’s EU accession process’ is included, acknowledging “the country’s intention to move towards the EU.”
This is because, after the first legislative step to launch the EU accession process was taken in Yerevan more than a year ago, no further political initiatives have followed – neither a broadly anticipated popular referendum nor the formal submission of the EU accession bid supported by the national Parliament. In other words, the institutions in Brussels are still waiting to receive Armenia’s formal application, and no action can be taken until it is received.
Areas for broader cooperation
For now, the focus of deepening relations between Brussels and Yerevan is taking place outside the framework of EU accession, although the “willingness to intensify the bilateral partnership through sectoral integration and rapprochement with the EU acquis” is expected to support this potential objective as well.
First and foremost, the new EU–Armenia Connectivity Partnership, signed in Yerevan on 5 May, will enhance cooperation in the transport, energy and digital fields, including through the launch of a High-Level Transport Dialogue and a parallel call for EU/EEA companies to invest in the South Caucasus country.
The EU also welcomes Yerevan’s intention to join the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), the EU Customs and Fiscalis Programmes, as well as EU4Health and the Creative Europe programme. Other areas of potential cooperation concern artificial intelligence, intellectual property rights, and especially security and defence, starting with closer exchanges on cybersecurity and resilience.
While supporting the Armenian Armed Forces under the European Peace Facility, the EU commends efforts both to “institutionalise peace” between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to “normalise” relations with Türkiye, including the reopening of “all communications links in the region, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned, as well as the principles of inviolability of borders and reciprocity.”
Another key issue for Yerevan is visa liberalisation. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted, progress has been set out in the first report on the implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan, within the framework of the dialogue launched in 2024. “I am absolutely convinced we are going to get there,” she said, stressing that visa liberalisation enhances mobility, fosters closer people-to-people contacts, and strengthens economic ties.
In this context, strengthened cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, and other EU agencies – including a working arrangement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office – can be seen as a positive step.
On the financial side, EU investments under the Global Gateway are expected to reach €2.5 billion, while the €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan continues to advance Armenia’s socio-economic reform agenda. “Possible avenues for financial support beyond 2027 may be considered,” the joint declaration further states.
The state of EU–Armenia relations
Relations between Armenia and the European Union have developed since Yerevan’s independence in 1991. The South Caucasus country joined the EU’s Eastern Partnership in 2009.
Negotiations on an Association Agreement began a year later but were suspended in 2013 after Armenia announced its decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union – an economic bloc comprising five post-Soviet countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – which the EU considered incompatible with the agreements being negotiated with Brussels.
Despite the EEU membership, a new Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement was signed in February 2017, entering into force in March 2021. Although Yerevan’s trade with the EU exceeds that with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan combined, the country has historically depended on Russia for security.
The process that could eventually lead to an EU membership application informally began with the speech by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the European Parliament in October 2023, when he concluded by declaring that “Armenia is ready to come as close to the EU as the EU considers possible.”
After a citizens’ initiative successfully gathered 50,000 signatures in November 2024 – allowing a legislative proposal to launch the EU accession process to be submitted – the Armenian parliament passed the bill, which became law on 4 April 2025. Under the national constitution, a referendum could be held before submitting an application to join any supranational organisation, including the European Union.
