--- title: "\"I See Armenia in the EU\": Pashinyan Outlines 20-Year Horizon for Accession and Rejects \"Choice\" Between West and Russia in Dublin" description: "Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in Dublin that he sees the country in the EU within the next 20 years, while emphasizing a balanced foreign policy without abandoning other partners." date: 2026-11-14T13:17:18.701Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pashinyan-sees-armenia-in-eu-within-20-years tags: [armenia, eu-accession, nikol-pashinyan, eaeu, csto, russia-armenia] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "I See Armenia in the EU": Pashinyan Outlines 20-Year Horizon for Accession and Rejects "Choice" Between West and Russia in Dublin ![Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaks in front of the Armenian national flag](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/pashinyan-vidit-armeniyu-v-sostave-es-cherez-20-let/pashinyan-vidit-armeniyu-v-sostave-es-cherez-20-let-1.webp) ## Key Points - Pashinyan stated in Dublin that he sees Armenia in the EU within 20 years; the country could submit an application in 2027–2028. - The prime minister emphasizes a balanced policy: Armenia is not abandoning other partners for the sake of EU rapprochement. - Moscow (Putin, Peskov) demands a "choice" between the EU and EAEU and warns of risks to the common market. - On November 11, CSTO member states stripped Armenia of its voting rights at Russia's suggestion. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking during a discussion at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin, publicly outlined the country's long-term course toward integration into European structures. According to him, he "sees Armenia as part of the European Union" and believes the country could become a member within the next 20 years. The statement came against the backdrop of an ongoing preparation process in Yerevan for a possible official membership application, which, according to the prime minister's earlier estimates, Armenia could submit in 2027 or 2028. ### A Twenty-Year Horizon and the "Armenian Chair" Responding to a question about whether Armenia can "sit on two chairs" while moving closer to the European Union, Pashinyan previously parried on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly: "Why two chairs? We are sitting on one Armenian chair." In Dublin, he reiterated this logic, emphasizing that the European direction does not mean abandoning cooperation with other states. "Armenia is where it was and is. Armenia will remain here, in its place. We do not want to move away from any partner and get closer to others. We are simply pursuing our balanced and equilibrium foreign policy," the prime minister stated. Thus, Yerevan positions its EU course not as a pivot against anyone, but as an expansion of its partnership geography. ### Moscow's Stance: "It Is Important to Make a Choice" This course does not suit the Russian side. During a meeting with Pashinyan in Bishkek, Vladimir Putin urged Yerevan to decide as soon as possible between joining the European Union and holding membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), warning that closer ties with the EU could deprive Armenia of common market benefits and lead to the rupture of trade relations. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the Armenian prime minister's words, stated that Moscow treats Armenia's sovereign rights "with respect," but recalled that the country is a member of the EAEU and that "gradual reorientation to other standards will not correlate with EAEU standards in various fields." "It is very important to make a choice," he stressed. In response, Pashinyan insists that the law initiating the EU accession process does not violate Armenia's obligations to Russia and the EAEU. ### Tensions Within the CSTO The divergence of positions between Yerevan and Moscow has gone beyond rhetoric, reflecting at the institutional level. On November 11, it became known that the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), upon Russia's proposal, stripped Armenia of its voting rights. This decision became one of the most vivid signs of cooling relations within the alliance and increasing pressure on Yerevan in the context of its European integration steps. ### Context: From "Conflict" to "Atmosphere of Peace" Pashinyan himself explains the transformation of relations with Russia by Armenia's transition from a state of "conflict" to an "atmosphere of peace," speaking of "inevitable changes" in bilateral ties. The combination of statements—from the Dublin discussion to the UN platform and the CSTO—shows that Armenia is consistently securing its right to pursue an independent foreign policy, combining preparations for EU accession with the preservation of existing agreements, including its EAEU status, although Moscow treats these two courses as mutually exclusive. ## Accounts differ ### Compatibility of the EU accession course with Armenia's EAEU membership - **Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan:** The law initiating the EU accession process does not violate Armenia's obligations to Russia and the EAEU; the country is pursuing a balanced policy and is not abandoning other partners. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vstup-es-chi-zv-yazki-rosieyu-pashinyan-vidpoviv-1794657633.html)) - **Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov (Moscow's position):** Armenia's gradual reorientation to other standards will not correlate with EAEU standards, and it is important for the country to make a choice between integration blocs. ([tengrinews.kz](https://tengrinews.kz/world_news/pashinyan-otvetil-udastsya-armenii-usidet-dvuh-stulyah-609320/)) *Where they agree:* Armenia is a member of the EAEU and is simultaneously conducting the preparation process for EU accession — both sides acknowledge this. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Вступление в ЕС или связь с Россией? Пашинян ответил, какой видит Армению через 20 лет](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vstup-es-chi-zv-yazki-rosieyu-pashinyan-vidpoviv-1794657633.html) - Primary source: Pashinyan's statements in Dublin, course toward application in 2027–2028, Putin's stance in Bishkek, deprivation of voting rights in CSTO on 11.11. - [Пашинян заявил о «неминуемых переменах» в отношениях Армении и России](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/21/09/2026/6ab0e698a48c0a547761fa42) - Context: transition from "conflict" to "atmosphere of peace" as the reason for changing relations with Russia. - [Пашинян ответил, удастся ли Армении усидеть на двух стульях при сближении с ЕС](https://tengrinews.kz/world_news/pashinyan-otvetil-udastsya-armenii-usidet-dvuh-stulyah-609320/) - Quote "one Armenian chair," Peskov's comment on non-correlation of standards and the necessity of choice, mention of the August 24 statement on starting the process. ## FAQ ### When, according to Pashinyan, can Armenia become an EU member? The prime minister stated that he sees Armenia as part of the EU within the next 20 years; he previously noted that an official membership application could be submitted in 2027 or 2028. ### Is Armenia abandoning cooperation with Russia for the sake of the EU? No, according to Pashinyan, Armenia pursues a balanced policy and does not intend to distance itself from one partner to draw closer to another; he also stated that the law initiating the EU accession process does not violate obligations to Russia and the EAEU. ### What is Russia's position? Vladimir Putin urged Yerevan to decide between the EU and the EAEU, while Dmitry Peskov stated that reorientation to other standards does not correlate with EAEU standards and that "it is important to make a choice." ### What happened in the CSTO? On November 11, CSTO member states, at Russia's proposal, stripped Armenia of its voting rights.