Amidst evolving dynamics in the South Caucasus region, the Armenian government has expressed its willingness to pursue closer ties with the European Union (EU), potentially heralding significant geopolitical shifts. However, experts caution that immediate EU membership remains a distant prospect for Armenia.

Sebastian Schäffer, Director of the Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), emphasized to Ednews that Armenia's alignment with the EU hinges on meetingg the rigorous Copenhagen criteria, signaling that the path to accession is fraught with challenges.

"Armenia will certainly not be ready to join the EU anytime soon. It will take efforts to fulfill the Copenhagen Criteria but there is certainly a window of opportunity now. With the possibility to settle the conflict with Azerbaijan, it should be possible for Yerevan to advance towards European integration. Regarding a potential peace treaty with Baku, it should be ensured that the minority rights will be respected and that a reconciliation between the two countries is possible. In any case, if Georgia can become a candidate country, Armenia does generally have a perspective to become an EU member.

Neither Brussels, nor Yerevan should be concerned how Moscow could react to it as first of all it is the decision of a sovereign country (whose security has been betrayed by the Russian Federation, but that is only a side note) and second we have to stop wondering what the Kremlin might think about actions, as Putin is neither a rational nor a responsible actor as the continued aggression against Ukraine shows."

Farid Akhund