No, it does not mean that we have begun preparations; we have begun preparing to create an alternative, as we promised our people, so that they have the opportunity to make a decision. Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this at a briefing in response to a journalist's question about whether Armenia had, in practice, begun political preparations to leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and whether there was a clear roadmap for the process.
“We are not planning to leave the EAEU, but you also know that our EAEU partners are raising the issue of making a choice and holding a referendum. I have said before that, at this point, there is no subject for a referendum that would allow us to hold one. In order to hold a referendum on that issue-on Armenia joining the European Union-we must at least go through certain procedures, and we are following that path. It is clear to me that the process is leading us toward eventually formally applying in 2027 or 2028 to begin the process of becoming a full member of the European Union, especially since we have a law in force,” he noted.
