3 minute read
Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of both the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the European Union because the two organizations are incompatible, according to Artak Zeynalyan, a former lawmaker and former minister of justice.
Zeynalyan is one of the initiators of the petition seeking EU integration. The petition garnered sufficient votes to become a bill and will be debated in parliament.
Ahead of the debates the bill was discussed at the parliamentary committee on EU integration.
“If we are speaking theoretically about the Eurasian Economic Union, then Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of the EU by being a member of another union. They are incompatible. And Armenia, as a sovereign state, an independent country, can make a decision on both accession and suspension of its membership to intergovernmental organizations. It is a sovereign decision that can be done only through national referendum,” Zeynalyan said when asked by Hayastan faction MP Armen Gevorgyan to clarify the matter.
On January 9, the Cabinet endorsed the bill seeking to launch the process of EU integration. The bill, which is set to be discussed in parliament, was initiated by several civic organizations through a petition which garnered enough votes to be considered as a bill by law.
The bill will be debated in the plenary session after passing the committee hearing.
Artak Zeynalyan, the representative of the initiating group behind the petition, told lawmakers at the committee that the purpose of passing the bill is to “enshrine the determination of the Armenian people and the will of its current government on joining the family of advanced, civilized, development humanity.”
He added that the adoption of the bill on starting the process of EU integration will contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region, diversification of the economy, increase of the quality of goods and services, among others.
Earlier on January 23, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicated that the bill will highly likely pass parliament.
In earlier comments, PM Pashinyan said that his administration endorses the bill but reminded that a decision to join the EU can only be made through a referendum.