Armenia will apply for EU membership while freezing ties with Russia-led CSTO
Yerevan will pursue the prospect of becoming an EU member, prime minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament, adding that his government would freeze its relationship with the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
«Armenia has to officially apply for EU membership in the first place,» Pashinyan told members of the country’s National Assembly on Monday, as cited by Arminfo. The prime minister added that the government «would probably begin the process soon, particularly in response to calls from our partners in the Eurasian Economic Union [EAEU].»
Earlier in May, presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia – all members of the EAEU – urged Armenia to explore «a possibility of holding a nationwide referendum on joining the European Union or remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union as soon as possible.»
Yerevan adopted a law in March 2025 that made EU accession an Armenian policy, but it was not a membership application. Filing one would begin the external process: the Council of the EU would ask the European Commission to assess Armenia, while candidate status and the opening of negotiations would require agreement from every member state.
Curbing Russia’s leverage
In a separate intervention on Monday, Pashinyan said he would be glad if Armenia were to leave the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Yerevan suspended its participation in 2024 and refused to resume active membership.
Pashinyan also asked Russia to transfer its concession to manage Armenia’s railway network to a third country acceptable to both sides, according to Armenpress. He said carriers and investors were avoiding the Russian-run Yeraskh–Akhurik line because of sanctions risk, threatening Armenia’s chance to connect to international trade routes.
- Armenia is a small economy, but its application would test how much geopolitical flexibility Moscow-led institutions allow their members.
- There is also a logistics dimension. The EU–Armenia connectivity partnership envisages linking Armenia to the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, tying Yerevan’s choices for routes carrying Central Asian goods to Europe.
